Ford Edge Problems: 13 Common Issues

The Ford Edge is Ford’s first attempt at a mid-size CUV (Compact Utility Vehicle), many owners praise the Edge for its safety and for being a perfect vehicle, but the Ford Edge does have its problems.

The Ford Edge suffers from PTU failure, transmission sensor malfunction, defective rear wheel bearings, throttle body failure, door ajar warning system failure, Fordsync issues, defective brake boosters, wiper malfunction, HVAC defects, glass cracking, and shattering, as well as water leaking and parasitic battery drain.

To help you make a more informed decision, we’ve broken down these issues below and looked at some Edge recalls you need to be aware of (especially if you have one of these models).

13 Common Ford Edge Problems

1. PTU Failure

The PTU (Power Transfering Unit) or transfer case on the Ford Edge takes the drive from the gearbox and transfers it to the front and the rear of the vehicle on four-wheel drive models.

The 2007 year models had an issue at about 95,000 miles (152,888 kilometers) where the PTU would overheat because of the engine and gearbox heat soaking.

Since it holds a tiny amount of oil, it can’t dissipate quickly; this results in the oil getting so hot it can’t lubricate the ears anymore and thus breaks the PTU.

The only fix is to replace it with the updated part, which will set you back a hefty $2,820.

2. Transmission Speed Sensor Malfunction

This affected Ford Edges from 2007 to 2011 at around 105,000 miles (168,981 kilometers) when the speed sensors on the transmission failed.

When the sensor fails to send the correct speed information to the transmission ECU, the car will start to shudder when shifting gears up to a point and won’t shift anymore.

The car will then go into a limp mode home, and the speedometer will indicate 0; the vehicle will give you the feeling of the transmission slipping.

Turning the car off and back on again will reset the sensor and give you a few miles before it starts acting up again.

In the beginning, most owners with this problem got a costly fix of replacing the entire transmission even though it was only the sensor.

The sensor is cheap at $80, but the labor to replace it is over $700.

3. Rear Wheel Bearing Defect

The 2007 model Edges at around 50,000 miles (80,467 kilometers) and may have a rear wheel bearing that fails.

The job of the wheel bearing is to connect the wheel to the hub assembly and brakes and ensure that it can move freely.

This is a defect with the bearing itself since some owners had bearings replaced four times in a span of 73,000 miles (117,482 kilometers) on the same wheel.

The dealerships are replacing the wheel bearings at around $940.

4. Door Ajar Warning Stays On

It might sound like a nuisance more than a problem, but since the door ajar warning stays on, the interior lights stay on, and you can’t lock the vehicles, draining the battery overnight.

This problem affected numerous years of the Ford Edge from 2007 to 2014 at around 81,000 miles (130,357 kilometers).

There are two fixes to this problem replacing an overpriced sensor for $420 or following this easy guide on grounding that sensor wire, costing almost nothing.

Ford Escape Passenger Door Ajar Fix "How to"

5. Throttle Body Failure

At around 58,000 miles (93,341 kilometers), the 2011 to 2016 Ford Edge electronic throttle can fail.

The little electric motor inside the throttle has only a certain lifespan, which seems isn’t seem that long.

You will notice the throttle body failing when driving and suddenly losing power, and the throttle pedal does not affect the vehicle’s RPM or speed.

Unfortunately, the only solution is replacing the $470 throttle body or getting a cheaper second-hand one, but how long will it last?

6. Infotainment (Fordsync) Malfunction

The Ford Edge has a very nifty infotainment system controlled by their Fordsync software, but on the 2011 to 2014 model year vehicles, it is just utter frustration for the owners.

Typical issues are loss of Bluetooth connectivity, calls dropping, songs randomly stopping or skipping, volume control going down or up, entire system reboot, interface freezes, radio not working, and navigation that won’t function.

The only fix is to get the latest Fordsync update on the system, which can cost up to $50.

7. Factory Defect Brake Booster

The job of the brake booster is to give the driver a mechanical advantage on the force used on the brake system, making it easier to depress the brake pedal.

From 2011 to 2013, Ford Edge may have had a factory defect brake booster that can result in it not working as intended.

Some owners’ brake pedals were stiff as a rock, while others’ pedals depressed to the floor, but the vehicle won’t slow down as fast as it should.

This problem happens at around 73,000 miles (117,482 kilometers), and you will need to replace the brake booster, which can cost anywhere between $700 to $1,000.

8. Wipers Malfunction

2013 Ford Edge, the wiper switch can fail at around 110,000 miles (177,028 kilometers).

This isn’t something that often fails in other cars; I have driven cars from the 80s and 90s with their original wiper switches.

This can have two outcomes: the wipers won’t function or stay on constantly.

Luckily you can obtain these switches at Autozone for $45.49.

9. HVAC System Not Working Properly

The 2013 Ford Edge HVAC (Heat, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) system is entirely electronically controlled. 

It has many gremlins causing it not to function correctly at around 53,000 miles (85,295 kilometers).

Many owners complained of the heat not working in cold areas and the air conditioning not working in warmer weather.

In some cases, even the blower motor would not work, and it is all at fault with the electronics controlling it.

The fix is to reset the system by simultaneously depressing the power and defrost buttons until the display turns off and back on again.

10. Vista Roof Glass Cracking

On the 2015 and 2016 Ford Edge, you could have factory-specced the car to be installed with the glass roof or, as Ford calls it, the Vista roof.

Unfortunately, in these years, models at around 31,000 miles (49,890 kilometers) owners would discover when opening the sun shade of the roof that the top layer of the Vista glass has a crack in it.

Since it is laminated glass, it has no danger of breaking and falling out or in the vehicle, but it bothers you as the owner to have cracked Vista glass.

There are no points of impact, so the chances are that the glass is mounted too close to the main body, which results in it touching it at certain temperatures due to thermal expansion.

You can buy the Vista glass anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000, depending if it is second-hand or new.

11. Rear Windows Shatter

In cold weather, the 2015 and 2016 Ford Edge has the chance of the rear window shattering pretty high.

This happens randomly; some owners parked their vehicles in the garage and found the rear glass broken the next day. In contrast, some owners experienced it while driving or standing beside the car.

A new rear glass costs about $680 with fitment.

12. Unknown Parasitic Battery Drain

This happens over time, and at around 20,000 miles (32,187 kilometers) on the 2015 Ford Edge, the car will start developing a parasitic power drain issue.

It isn’t severe, but it is bad enough that the battery will only last about two weeks.

Some owners have dug into the issue and pinpointed it to the alternator having an internal problem causing it not to charge appropriately and slowly draining the battery.

13. Water Leaking Into The Interior

During the 2016 Ford Edge assembly, the front windscreen sealant might have been incorrectly applied to the bottom of the glass, resulting in water entering the cabin.

The water builds up in the wiper cowl and starts entering the cabin at such a rate that it will thoroughly drench the driver and passenger footwells area.

The fix is to remove and refit the front windscreen with adequate sealant.

Ford Edge Recalls

While many Ford Edge models have been recalled, many out there were not repaired, so consider these problems when buying a second-hand Edge. 

If you already own a Ford Edge, take your vehicle to a dedicated Ford dealer as soon as possible to rectify these problems.

2008 Recalls

• 2008 model-year vehicles, the fuel tank weld fixture was exposed to a contaminant during assembly and production that can dimple the fuel tank at a spot weld, that results in a fuel leak.

2011 Recalls

• 2011 model-year vehicles were shipped with incorrectly configured electronic control module settings that disable the locking function of the rear hatch door.
• 2011 model-year vehicles may have a body control module that is not correctly manufactured and has the potential for an internal short resulting in an unattended car fire.
• 2011 model-year vehicles were inspected using an integrated diagnostic system (IDS) that runs custom software. 

This software, in some cases, could not identify faulty BCM (Body Control Module), and these BCMs can result in an internal short and cause a fire.

2014 Recalls

• 2012 to 2013 model-year vehicles equipped with the 2.0-liter engine have a fuel line pulse dampener metal housing that is improperly manufactured. 

This result in fuel weeping or leaking and increase the chance of a vehicle fire.

• 2013 to 2014 model-year vehicles, the half-shaft retention circlip may not be adequately installed, resulting in the half shafts moving outward and disengaging to the link shaft without warning resulting in loss of drive in the vehicle
• 2007 to 2008 model-year vehicles exposed to salt on the roads may leak fuel from the seams under the fuel tank reinforcement mounting brackets, resulting in increased fire risk.

2015 Recalls

• 2014 model-year vehicles have improper nickel plating inside the fuel pump that can fail, resulting in total fuel pump failure and vehicle stalling.
• 2012 to 2015 model-year vehicles exposed to salt on the road may corrode the electric power steering pump motor bolts resulting in the motor detaching from the gear housing and losing power steering assistance.

2016 Recalls

• 2007 to 2010 model-year vehicles may have a faulty inflator in the airbags that can rupture and break into metal fragments striking the occupants of the car and causing severe injury or death.
• 2015 to 2016 model-year vehicles may have been incorrectly updated during dealer servicing on the ABS (Anit Lock Brake System) and ESC (Electronic Stability Control) systems resulting in the driver not being warned when there is something wrong with these systems.

2017 Recalls

• 2016 to 2017 model-year vehicles, in the event of a crash, the driver’s frontal airbag might not fully inflate, or the airbag cushion can fully detach from the module resulting in an increased risk of injury during a crash.
• 2017 model-year vehicles equipped with the Vista roof may have an improperly welded windshield header reducing structural rigidity.
• 2017 model-year vehicles equipped with the 2.0-liter engine and six-speed automatic transmission, the torque converter weld studs may be improperly welded, resulting in it disconnecting from the flex plate, and the vehicle will have no drive.

2018 Recalls

• 2018 model-year vehicles equipped with the 2.0-liter engine and six-speed automatic transmission, the torque converter weld studs may be improperly welded, resulting in it disconnecting from the flex plate, and the vehicle will have no drive.
• 2018 mode-year vehicles, the power cables to the starter and alternator may not have been adequately secured, which can cause an electrical arc and increase the risk of fire.
• 2018 model-year vehicles may have door striker bolts that are too short, resulting in the doors opening during a crash.

2019 Recalls

• 2015 to 2016 model-year vehicles exposed to salt on the road may corrode the electric power steering pump motor bolts resulting in the motor detaching from the gear housing and losing power steering assistance.
•  2019 model-year vehicle driver-side seat belt pre-tensioner may have been improperly crimped, resulting in the webbing of the seatbelt detaching from the anchor during a crash.

2020 Recalls

• 2015 to 2018 model-year vehicle front brake hoses can rupture prematurely, resulting in loss of brake fluid and worsening brake performance.
• 2019 to 2020 model-year vehicles may have start/stop accumulator endcaps with missing bolts resulting in the transmission losing fluid.
• 2020 model-year vehicles have a poor electrical connection to the rearview camera resulting in it intermittently displaying a blank or distorted image.
• 2014 model-year vehicles equipped with 2.0 and 2.3-liter engines and front-wheel drive have a support bracket for the drive axle half shaft that can fail, resulting in loss of drive.

2021 Recalls

• 2020 to 2021 model-year vehicles don’t have enough lubricant in the rear drive unit resulting in the seizing of the unit, loss of drive, and loss of vehicle control.
• 2007 to 2010 model-year vehicles may be equipped with replacement driver or passenger frontal airbag inflators that can explode due to the propellant degrading after a long time exposed to high humidity and temperature.
• In 2021 model-year vehicles, the driver seat belt retractor pre-tensioner assembly may not function properly or activate during a crash.

2022 Recalls

• 2021 to 2022 model-year vehicles may have a software error that causes the rearview camera to display a blank or distorted image when it is in reverse.
• 2015 to 2018 model-year vehicles have bushings that attach the shifter cable to the transmission that can degrade and detach, resulting in the car not shifting or shifting unexpectedly.

Final Thoughts On Ford Edge Problems

While so many owners enjoy their Edge, the car has flaws, with the most significant issues being the rear hatch glass shattering for no reason and the HVAC system malfunctioning and not doing as the occupants want.

The best thing to do if you own a Ford Edge is to take it to a Ford dealership and have them check for any recalls that haven’t been completed.

If you are in the market for a used Ford Edge, get a full vehicle history report and avoid any models with an outstanding recall.

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