2009 Ford Escape: misfire or rough idle

Filed Oct 24, 2018 · Fuel system · 82,000 miles · FL

Intermittent rough idle/stalling at traffic lights as well as hesitation when accelerating at all speeds. Throttle body replaced under extended warranty when issue first presented last year; symptoms persist without check engine light; independent mechanic unable to diagnose/reproduce issue. Issue has been occurring for the last twelve months without resolution.

Filed Jul 28, 2014 · Engine · 73,317 miles · CA

Engine started in parking lot with a very rough idle. I thought it may be a fuel issue because the car started but dies immediately after giving gas to the pedal. The 2009 ford escape was towed to our mechanic and he reported it has a seized engine on the exhaust vavle #1 cylinder. I then had the car towed to the ford dealership to have a new ford engine replaced. I am concerned this is related to the gas throttle recall as the engine was running fine and with low miles and oil changes every 3,000 miles it just does not make sense. The ford dealership cost for a new engine is $7000. You would hope ford could stand by their recall product, but they said no warranty on powertrain. This is a very unfortunate and very expensive repair. Updated 4/24/2015

Filed Dec 1, 2013 · Acceleration, Engine · 39,998 miles · FL

My car lost acceleration in an intersection going about 15 MPH. The engine was running slow and rough. The throttle had no effect on engine speed. After about 10 minutes of rough idling, the vehicle was turned off and I was then able to immediately restart the engine and it was able to drive home. This appears to be a known fault with the ford escape and could result in accidents. My understanding is that this is a known design problem with the throttle control system on the escape.

Filed Sep 30, 2013 · Fuel system, Transmission · 72,100 miles · SC

Traveling along a rural highway, vehicle suddenly lost power and wrench light came on. I was forced to coast dangerously to a safe place to pull over, with another vehicle nearly hitting me from behind due to the sudden loss of speed. Gas pedal seemed to not be working. Once vehicle came to a stop, the car had an extremely rough idle. After turning the car off and restarting, the problem seemed to be reset, and gas pedal worked again, but the problem occurred again the next day, dangerously again along an interstate highway. This should be a recall - the sudden deceleration is very dangerous!!!!

Filed Aug 28, 2013 · Acceleration, Fuel system · 73,492 miles · WI

While driving the 2009 ford escape down highway, experienced a brief lurch then complete and immediate loss of throttle control. Engine speed decreased to approx. 1000 RPM making it impossible to continue driving and forcing an emergency stop on shoulder. While stopped on shoulder, engine was completely unresponsive to throttle, and remained roughly idling at 1k rpms. Shut off engine, and restarted the vehicle. After restarting, throttle control appeared to be working normally. There were no obvious symptoms immediately prior to the failure: engine appeared to be running fine, and throttle control was working normally until the incident. The unexpected loss of throttle control and corresponding decrease in vehicle speed was disorienting, and could have easily resulted in an unsafe situation or accident if surrounding traffic were heavier or driver had panicked. Vehicle was diagnosed by dealer as having a "failing throttle body". Codes retrieved were p2111 and p2135, and pinpoint tests showed that "the throttle actuator control motor is failing". Throttle body assembly was replaced.

Filed Aug 23, 2013 · Transmission · 72,000 miles · GA

On aug 14, 2013, I was headed home from work driving approximately 40 MPH on flat land, when I lost acceleration power, I pulled over into a parking lot placed it in park where it ran very rough, the wrench indicator appeared, then I turned the car off, waited a few seconds and cranked the car and everything was fine again. Approximately 4 miles later in my trip the same situation happened, I was traveling about 50 MPH and a slight incline. Approximately 7 miles later in my trip, while at a slight decline, traveling approximately 45 MPH the same thing happened again. I then took my escape to the shop. They had it for two days driving it about 25 miles and they could not get it to duplicate the problem. I picked up my escape friday august 16, 2013, night (after the shop closed) didn't make it 3 miles from the shop, while traveling at about 60 MPH, I lost acceleration power, the wrench light came on, I pulled over put it in park and again very rough idle, turned it off waited a few seconds, cranked it back up and it drove fine with no issue until this morning august 23, 2013, while traveling at approximately 40 MPH on a slight incline in traffic, I lost acceleration power, the wrench indicator light appeared, I pulled into the center gore put it in park - while in park it runs extremely rough, sputtering and spitting, turned it off, waited a few seconds and cranked it up and came on into work with no issues.

Filed Jul 22, 2013 · Acceleration, Engine · 60,150 miles · IL

I was driving 35 MPH in town when vehicle seemed to be losing power. I pulled over to the side of the road. The engine was running at a very rough idle . I tried to accelerate but it would barely move. I turned the engine off and restarted it . It did the same thing, no acceleration. I did this several times before it would run properly. It seemed rather jerky while driving. I was about 10 miles from home when this happened. On the way home I was driving at 55 MPH and it died completely. The check engine light came on this time. I got it restarted and made it home. I have a code reader at my house. I checked and codes p2111 and p2112 were stored in the computer. I checked with a mechanic and was told the codes relate to the throttle body assembly. I was going to have it repaired but the mechanic told me that the part is on national back order. This is my only vehicle and I' m afraid to drive. What can I do.

Filed Jul 9, 2013 · Engine · 60,700 miles · IL

Vehicle looses power and must pull to the side of the road. The engine continues to run roughly but no power goes to the wheels. Once stopped I turn vehicle off for a minute. Once restarted the vehicle seems to run okay. But it happened 3 times on 7/8/2013. The code is p2111. I took it to the dealer and the part is on back order so I do not know when this will be resolved. This is my only car and I feel it is unsafe. According to your websight there are 2 action reports. #s pe13003 & dp12006. And 2 technical service bulletins #s 09-23-5 & 10-21-6.

Filed Jun 10, 2013 · Acceleration, Fuel system · 94,000 miles · TX

At or about 2:30pm on sunday, june 9, 2013, the identified vehicle was being operated on a limited-access state highway at or around the posted speed limit of 70 MPH. The vehicle took an exit ramp onto the frontage road and decelerated to posted speed limit of 50 MPH. Without warning or any prior indication, the vehicle entered the ford-defined "limp home mode," which included a loss of engine power (governed to approximated 900 RPM in second gear), and the vehicle experienced rapid deceleration to approximately 10 MPH on the high-speed three-lane roadway with medium to medium-heavy traffic. Upon pulling the vehicle to safety in a parking lot, the vehicle experienced rough idling and the dashboard illuminated a "throttle control/power train fault" warning light. Upon cycling the engine off and on, engine ignition took longer than typical to start by several seconds, but appeared to otherwise function properly. Upon re-entering the roadway, an experience similar to that described above occurred after shifting to third gear. After-market diagnostic computer indicates the vehicle has a p2112, "throttle actuator control stuck closed," code. Engine was cycled and entry to roadway was attempted again; similar episode occurred when shifting to third gear. Vehicle was towed to a ford dealership for service, which is pending at the time of this report.

Filed Sep 4, 2012 · Acceleration, Transmission · 88,682 miles · TN

Had just come over the tn river bridge on i40 east in tn and was approaching mile marker 137 when the vehicle became non responsive to throttle with no dash indication lights. At first I thought fuel pump shut down because acceleration did not work. I knew the engine was still running by RPM and power steering worked. The vehicle was coasting in the left lane and there was traffic behind, in front and in right lane. I turned on hazard lights in hopes of warning the traffic around me. The semi behind me had to slow also and I could not change lanes at moment. Contemplating going left into the median and maybe striking an upcoming bridge rail or wait for open right lane and get to right side of interstate. I had an opening and turned off hazard flasher and then gave a right blinker, cutting off the semi behind who was trying to go around me. At that moment I thought we would get hit. Pulled over and the wrench light came on and no check engine light. Vehicle idled bad like a misfire and RPM gauge went up and down unsteadily. I videoed the fluctuation while pulled over. Turned car off and restarted no problem. Problem came back again 74 miles later in nashville at 88756 miles. At that point on i440e and i65 split the vehicle, without warning, shutdown again, became non responsive to throttle. Then the wrench light and check engine light came on and I pulled over videoed the fluctuating gauges. Turned vehicle off and restarted and lights went off and proceeded to crown ford on thompson lane and the service dept was closed. This issue also happened 5 times on 9-3-2012, between mileage 89,9002 to 89,1181, while in alabama/tn. Example going uphill, and also coasting into someones driveway at night . This vehicle still currently has the trans flare issue even after two PCM reflash. But ford cant get it to act up. I thought maybe this issue was related.

Filed Aug 13, 2012 · Acceleration · 51,500 miles · MI

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 ford escape. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle engaged into a rough idle and stalled. The contact mentioned that the check engine warning light and the wrench warning light illuminated. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that the throttle body was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of failure who filed a report and did not offer any assistance. The failure mileage was 51,500 and the current mileage was 52,000.

Filed Aug 12, 2012 · Engine, Transmission · 49,082 miles · FL

Was driving in right lane approximately 45mph and I lost all acceleration. Thought I had a flat or something. Pulled over and into a parking lot. Engine was idling rough so I turned it off and called my husband to see what was happening with the car. Husband came and restarted, drove home no issue. On 8/11/12 driving to store the same thing happened but this time noticed the wrench light came on. The gas pedal stopped working loosing all engine power. Pulled over and called my husband to see what happened. Left car running, husband pressed gas pedal but engine stayed at rough idle. Turned car off and restarted, drove car home and called servicing dealership for appointment. Had the vehicle serviced on 8/10/12 to check transmission, thought that was the problem but they said everything was fine. They said they would let us know today 8/12/12 if vehicle should be towed in rather then driving it in due to safety reasons.