Driving on 5 lanre paved road at 50 MPH when engine lost power did not stall. No throttle response. Was able to shift into neutral and coast into parking lot shut off engine and restarted problem went away. Took to dealer 3 days later where throttle body was replaced under warranty. *tr
2011 Ford Escape powertrain problems
moderate 254 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
254
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
2crashes
3injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 254 powertrain complaints filed for the 2011 Ford Escape, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 254 powertrain complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Powertrain accounts for 19% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 12 categories tracked.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
I have already filed one complaint regarding the throttle body on my 2011 Ford escape. I had to pay out of pocket to have it fixed in july and 3 weeks after I paid to have it fixed it started messing up again. The throttle body hasn't gone out again but it bogs down like it is going to shut off at any given second. And also with the part malfunctioning it wreaks havoc on my gas mileage.…
Car stalled. Wrench and engine light came on. We were going down a road that had no place to pull over. We were stuck in the middle of the road. Turned off car and restarted but was very slow to start. We turned around and went back home and it did it several more times. Called local Ford dealership and is going to cost over $400 to fix. This is a very dangerous problem and the part should be…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2011 Ford Escape?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2011 Ford Escape?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 254 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 242 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 37,000 and 60,000 miles, with the median around 45,559. A quarter of owners report trouble before 37,000; a quarter make it past 60,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/Ford/Escape.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.