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2011 Ford Escape Hev
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
1,334 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 14, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Steering problems dominate (31% of complaints, typically reported near 82k miles).
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
Complaint reports have faded. Early issues appear resolved or aged out.
The math, shown
Full methodology →Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
3/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2011 Ford Escape Hev SUV 4x4
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 20%
5 open NHTSA defect investigations on file, separate from the recalls above.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2011 Ford Escape Hev, plotted where owners report it happening.
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Steering
31%408 complaints · typically near 82k mi · 35 in the last 2 years
“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 Esca…”
Fuel system
22%287 complaints · typically near 22k mi · 5 in the last 2 years
“The contact owns a 2011 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the odor of fuel was present inside the cabin of the vehicle. Upon inspection…”
Transmission & drivetrain
20%273 complaints · typically near 36k mi · 2 in the last 2 years
“While driving, the power steering assist intermittently fails without warning. This makes steering very difficult and creates a serious safety hazard, especially at lo…”
Speed control
19%253 complaints · typically near 33k mi
“IT'S STALLING IN MOTION OR SUDDENLY SURGING FORWARD WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, POSING A SERIOUS SAFETY RISK TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS, OTHER MOTORISTS AND PEDESTRIANS. …”
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2011 Ford ESCAPE HEV beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2011? See how every Escape Hev model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2011 Ford Escape Hev against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.