Ford Edge 2007-2014: pros and cons, common problems

The Ford Edge is a mid-size, 5-seater crossover SUV you can enjoy driving. It shares its platform with its luxury twin Lincoln MKX, as well as the Mazda CX-9. The Edge offers a solid feel with sporty handling and a smooth ride. The 2011+ Ford Edge Sport with a 3.7L V6 is one of the quickest SUVs.

The interior is roomy and comfortable. The rear seat space is more than adequate. Rear seatbacks fold down giving the Edge 68.9 cu. ft. of cargo space.

The 2011 facelift brought an upgraded interior and available MyFord Touch with an 8-inch touchscreen.

The 2.0L EcoBoost 4-cylinder engine has been added for 2012 to front-wheel drive trims. A used Ford Edge is not very expensive, compared to other SUVs, but is it a good choice? What are the pros and cons and reported problems to watch out for?

Pros:

• Stylish sporty looks, solid feel.
• Pleasant driving experience, responsive handling, smooth, quiet ride.
• Reasonable price.
• V6 power, acceleration.
• Nicely done interior, cargo space.
• Comfortable seats, good front visibility.

Cons:

• Repairs and maintenance can be expensive at higher mileage.
• Restricted visibility in the rear corners.
• Electrical and PTU issues.
• MyFord Touch bugs.
• 22-inch tires in the Ford Edge Sport are expensive to replace.
• In a V6, the water pump will be costly to replace if it fails.

2007-2014 Ford Edge common problems: Most of the reported problems are not very expensive to repair. They are: Check Engine light issues (e.g., bad purge valve) electric faults with door locks, power steering leaks, bad vacuum brake booster, front end problems (control arms, tie rod ends), A/C issues (e.g., due to failing blend door actuators). More costly problems include a bad AWD power transfer unit (PTU) and a failing water pump in a V6 engine. Read more about the problems:

Door ajar lamp is staying on. The TSB 18-2013 covers the issue of the door ajar lamp illuminated with all doors closed, draining the battery in the 2011-2013 Ford Edge. A door ajar sensor that is built into the door latch might be the cause of the problem. The TSB repair procedure involves cleaning the switch using a special tool that most likely only Ford dealers have. It's not a very expensive repair, however there are a few reports that the problem came back after the repair.

There are plenty of YouTube videos describing the problem and repair options. This thread at Fordedgeforum.com discusses the issue. Some owners suggest cleaning and lubricating the latch with a spray. One of our friends had this issue with his 2012 Edge and he replaced the driver's door latch ($130 part) that was faulty. A Ford dealer may charge 1.0-2.0 hours of labor plus the cost of part to replace it. Watch these videos on the door latch replacement.

Power steering hose leak: Signs of a power steering fluid leak include a loud buzzing noise from the power steering pump when turning, a lack of steering assist and reddish/brownish oil drops on the driveway.

You can check the power steering fluid level in the power steering fluid bottle on the passenger side of the engine compartment, behind the coolant reservoir. The power steering hose (part) is not too expensive, and your shop may charge you about 2 hours of labor to replace it. Watch these videos on the problem and repair.

Power transfer unit (PTU) failures and leaks have been reported by many owners. PTU is a compact transfer case in the AWD system. It's attached to the transmission and has a few gears inside to angle the rotating torque towards the rear differential. The PTU is filled with a small amount of gear oil and is surrounded by hot exhaust parts. The owner's manual for the 2008 Ford Edge specifies the PTU capacity at 12 ounces (0.35L).

Replacing the PTU will cost over $1,000, as the OEM part alone is priced over $800. Many owners at various forums and on YouTube suggest checking the PTU regularly for leaks and changing the oil in the PTU more often.

Signs of a leak from the PTU include thick black fluid drops in the area to the back of the engine in the middle of the car and a bad smell of burnt gear oil coming from under the car. The PTU doesn't have a drain plug, but according to several owners, the gear oil can be sucked out and changed through the fill plug. There are many YouTube videos on this subject.

Code P0456, purge valve: A failed purge valve can cause the code P0456, however, to confirm it, the EVAP system must be properly tested. Replacing the purge valve (canister purge solenoid) is not very expensive. Watch these videos.

Brake Booster: According to the bulletin 13N02 Ford extended warranty coverage on a brake booster in certain 2010-2013 Ford Edge models to ten years of service or 150,000 miles, whichever occurs first. Check with your Ford dealer if you have any symptoms of a bad brake booster, such as a hard brake pedal or a hissing noise coming from the brake pedal area.

Tie rod ends, control arms: Bad tie rod ends and control arms are not uncommon. That is why we recommend having the vehicle checked out on the hoist in a repair shop at least once a year. Replacing one outer tie rod ends is not too difficult (0.6-0.9 hours of labor for one). Your mechanic may charge you 0.8-1.1 hours to replace one front lower control arm. After the replacement, the wheel alignment must be performed.

Ford issued the TSB 07-21-11 for the Output Shaft Speed (OSS) sensor or Turbine Shaft Speed (TSS) sensor code and/or harsh engagement, no upshift, fifth gear only in the 6F50 transmission of certain 2007-2008 Ford Edge models. The bulletin advises following the diagnostic procedure and if found to be bad, replace the sensor(s). Again, YouTubers made several videos on this problem.

Old spark plugs may cause one of the ignition coils to short, which in turn can cause the PCM to fail. For this reason, it makes sense to replace spark plugs at recommended intervals or earlier. Replacing spark plugs on the V6 Edge will cost 1.5-2.4 hours of labor plus parts.

The Ford TSB 10-21-02 for the 2009-2011 Edge describes a problem with the transmission range (TR) sensor that can cause various transmission problems, such as slipping/neutral out, 5th gear start from stop, electronic PRNDL error, backup camera on in Drive or speed control dropping out intermittently.

The transmission range sensor tells the transmission computer what gear the shifter is in. For example, the backup camera may not work intermittently if the sensor cannot detect that the transmission is in Reverse. The diagnostic procedure in the bulletin involves checking the resistance between the transmission connector pins and if the resistance is out of specs, the transmission range sensor must be replaced.

Ford has issued several recalls for the Edge; check on the NHTSA website.

Summary: Is the 2007-2014 Ford Edge a good car to buy? The Edge is one of the few SUVs that is fun to drive, especially with the 3.7L V6. The reliability is not perfect, but compared to other similar vehicles, the Edge is not a bad choice. We would recommend the proven V6 over the 2.0L EcoBoost.

As of July 2022, Consumer Reports rates the 2014 Edge 'above average' for reliability; the 2008, 2010 and 2012-2013 model years are rated 'average'. The 2011 Edge is rated 'below average'. There is a spike in complaints about electrical problems in the 2011-2013 Edge on the NHTSA website.

Still, a great deal of Ford Edge owner reviews are positive. Many owners compliment the styling, driving experience, power, MyFord Touch features and safety. Overall, the front-wheel drive Edge with a V6 engine will be less expensive to maintain in the long run.

The V6 engine is designed so that the water pump is built inside and is driven by a timing chain. If the water pump fails, it's expensive to replace (about 12 hours of labor) and the coolant might leak into the crankcase. That said, we have seen a V6 engine last for over 200K miles and the number of engine-related complaints is small compared to other cars. Considering that, a good extended warranty for the powertrain is worth considering when buying a used Ford Edge. Crash test ratings are mixed. Check on the NHTSA website.

2007-2014 Ford Edge Engines: V6 Engine choices: The 2007-2010 Edge comes with a 265-hp 3.5L Duratec 35 V6. For 2011, the 3.5L V6 gained more power (285 horsepower). The 2011-2014 Ford Edge Sport is powered by the 305-hp 3.7L Duratec 37 V6. Both are solid DOHC engines used in many Ford and Lincoln vehicles as well as in some Mazda products.

EcoBoost 2.0L: For 2012, the Edge received an optional fuel-efficient 240-hp 2.0L EcoBoost engine with front-wheel drive. It's a gasoline turbocharged direct-injected (GTDI) 4-cylinder motor. You can find it not only in many Ford vehicles but even in some Volvo and Range Rover products. As with any turbo engine, it needs to be maintained well to last.
Read also: Pros and cons of turbo engines. and
Direct Injection: how it works, pros and cons.

Timing belt or timing chain? The 3.5L and 3.7L V6s, as well as the 2.0L EcoBoost have a timing chain. The timing chain doesn't need to be replaced unless it's stretched or there is some other problem with it.

Fuel Economy: The 2012-2014 FWD Edge with the 2.0L EcoBoost engine is the most fuel efficient trim level; the EPA rates it at 21/29 mpg. The 2011-2014 AWD Ford Edge with a 3.5L V6 gets 18/25 mpg city/highway, giving it a range of up to 437 miles (703 km) on a tank of gas. The 2011-2014 AWD Ford Edge Sport with a 3.7L V6 is rated at 17/23 mpg.

How does the Edge AWD system work? All-wheel drive is only available with a V6. It's an on-demand AWD system based on front-wheel drive, which means front wheels are powered at all times. An electronically controlled clutch located in the rear differential engages the rear axle when needed. We didn't try off-roading, but with good winter tires the system works well in the snow.

One of the main components of the AWD system is a small transfer case (power transfer unit or PTU), which is attached to the transmission.

As with any AWD system, it's important to use only tires of the same size, keep the pressure up to the specs and rotate the tires often to make sure they are wearing evenly. The oil in the rear differential and transfer unit must be kept clean.

Related reviews:
Mazda CX-9 2007-2015 review
Toyota Venza 2009-2015 review
Nissan Murano 2009-2014
Honda Pilot 2009-2015 review
Nissan Pathfinder 2013-2020 reviews
Toyota Highlander 2008-2013 review
Dodge Journey 2009-2019

What to look for when buying a used Ford Edge: When checking the vehicle at the dealership lot, test all electrical accessories, such as the power tailgate and the air conditioner. Make sure the sunroof opens and closes freely. See if the backup camera (if equipped) works consistently.

Earlier, there were many issues with the MyFord Touch system, including the black screen, slow response, freezing, and repeated reboots. Many owners have had the software updated or the APIM module replaced while under warranty. This means, research the MyFord Touch problems and test all the features carefully. See these YouTube videos for more info.

The 22-in tires and rims in the Edge Sport are expensive to replace, check the condition of the tires carefully.

Leaks under the car, as well as the smell of coolant or burnt oil coming from under the hood, indicate a problem. The low coolant level in the expansion bottle might also be an indication of leaking coolant. If coolant leaks from a water pump in a V6, the repair will be expensive. Check the oil on the dipstick and avoid the vehicle if it looks like the coolant is mixed with oil, see how it looks here: how to check the engine when buying a used car.

Several owners mentioned a leaking power steering hose. Before buying a used Ford Edge, have it inspected by a trusted mechanic. Ask to check for leaks and assess the condition of the engine and transmission, a water pump in a V6 and a turbocharger in the 2.0L EcoBoost engine. If possible, the AWD system should be tested to make sure the rear axle receives power.

Ford Edge Maintenance tips: Check the engine oil regularly between oil changes. Keeping the coolant level topped up will help avoid overheating the engine. If you notice signs of leaks on your driveway, have the vehicle checked out as soon as possible to prevent more serious problems. Read also: 12-point Car Maintenance Checklist with Photos.

We recommend having regular inspections in the shop with the car on the hoist done at least once a year to keep it safe. The reason is that many components cannot be inspected in a drive-through quick lube place. For example, a bad ball joint (part of the control arm) is hard to notice unless a mechanic checks it with the car on the hoist.

When bringing your vehicle for service, ask to check the A/C drain; if it's clogged up, water will leak from the HVAC system inside the car. A timely spark plug replacement will help avoid more serious problems like failed ignition coils. Consider rust proofing if you live in an area where salt is used on the roads in winter.

Engine oil capacity: With oil filter change:
2007-2011 Edge 3.5L/3.7L V6 engines: 5.5 quarts (5.2L). The recommended oil grade is SAE 5W-20 Premium Synthetic Blend.
2012-2014 Edge 3.5L/3.7L V6 engines: 6.0 quarts (5.7L). Oil grade: SAE 5W-20 Premium Synthetic Blend
2012-2014 Edge 2.0L 4-cylinder EcoBoost: 5.7 quarts (5.4L). SAE 5W-30 Premium Synthetic Blend is the recommended oil grade.