B1342 on FORD ESCAPE — ECU Is Defective

Q: "What does B1342 mean on a FORD ESCAPE?"

"B1342 indicates: ECU Is Defective. This is a body electrical code. 15 FORD ESCAPE owners have reported this to NHTSA."

Q: "What are the most common causes of B1342 on FORD ESCAPE?"

"Based on 15 NHTSA reports, the most commonly cited components are: Steering, Service Brakes, Steering,Electronic Stability Control (Esc). These percentages are based on the component field in owner complaints."

Q: "Is B1342 serious on my FORD ESCAPE?"

"Of 15 NHTSA reports for this code on FORD ESCAPE, none involved a crash or fire. However, any diagnostic code should be evaluated by a qualified mechanic."

Q: "What should I do if my FORD ESCAPE shows B1342?"

"1) Check for recalls on your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 2) Get a professional diagnosis — a code alone doesn't identify the exact failed part. 3) Get 2-3 repair estimates to compare."

What B1342 Means on Your FORD ESCAPE

B1342 is a diagnostic trouble code indicating: ECU Is Defective. This code relates to the body electrical system. The vehicle's computer detected a condition outside normal operating parameters and stored this code.

15 FORD ESCAPE owners have reported this issue to NHTSA across model years 2008-2011. Most reports come from the 2009, 2011 model years. The most commonly reported component is Steering (86.7% of reports).

Real FORD ESCAPE Owner Reports

Source: NHTSA Complaints Database

"I submitted a complaint on february 2, 2015 in reference to the steering column locking up while driving my car to work. the car was towed to the repair shop and the service technician informed me that the codes were cleared and the car was tested and was drivable."

— 2008 FORD ESCAPE owner · STEERING · Filed 01/27/2015

"Power steering has gone out and it registered a fault of B1342. This makes it extremely hard to steer and a safety issue. Ford should be taking care of this as the vehicle only has 80;000 miles on it. Dealership says parts are on back order and it will cost $3,600 to repair."

— 2009 FORD ESCAPE owner · STEERING · Filed 08/02/2023

"The contact owns a 2009 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH the steering wheel became difficult to turn to the left or the right. The contact stated that the steering wheel had started to jerk to the left. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated."

— 2009 FORD ESCAPE owner · STEERING · Filed 06/04/2022

"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."

— 2009 FORD ESCAPE owner · SERVICE BRAKES · Filed 09/11/2021

"Our 2009 Ford Escape built at the Kansas City Assembly Plant has experienced a complete failure of the Electric Power Steering System. There were no warning lights when the Electric Power Steering System failed causing the vehicle to revert back to manual steering."

— 2009 FORD ESCAPE owner · STEERING · Filed 06/16/2021

All reports filed by vehicle owners directly with the U.S. Department of Transportation.

📊 Complaint Trend by Model Year

1

'08

11

'09

1

'10

2

'11

Common Causes on FORD ESCAPE

Based on NHTSA complaint component analysis for this vehicle.

STEERING 86.7%

SERVICE BRAKES 6.7%

STEERING,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 6.7%

What To Do Next

1
Check for recalls on YOUR VIN
Go to nhtsa.gov/recalls and enter your VIN. If your vehicle is covered, repairs are free.
2
Get a proper diagnosis
A code alone doesn't tell you the exact failed part. A diagnostic at a shop ($50–$150) pinpoints the root cause before you spend money on parts.
3
Compare repair quotes
Get 2–3 quotes. Dealer vs. independent shop prices often differ 30–50% for the same repair.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does B1342 mean on a FORD ESCAPE? ▾

B1342 indicates: ECU Is Defective. This is a body electrical code. 15 FORD ESCAPE owners have reported this to NHTSA.

What are the most common causes of B1342 on FORD ESCAPE? ▾

Based on 15 NHTSA reports, the most commonly cited components are: Steering, Service Brakes, Steering,Electronic Stability Control (Esc). These percentages are based on the component field in owner complaints.

Is B1342 serious on my FORD ESCAPE? ▾

Of 15 NHTSA reports for this code on FORD ESCAPE, none involved a crash or fire. However, any diagnostic code should be evaluated by a qualified mechanic.

What should I do if my FORD ESCAPE shows B1342? ▾

1) Check for recalls on your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 2) Get a professional diagnosis — a code alone doesn't identify the exact failed part. 3) Get 2-3 repair estimates to compare.

B1342 on Other Vehicles

FORD FUSION

3 reports

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