What Ford Escape owners have reported to NHTSA, the service bulletins the manufacturer sent dealers, and any federal defect investigations, by model year. See Ford Escape safety recalls or check your VIN.
Complaints owners filed with NHTSA, by the model year of the vehicle. A high count can also mean a popular year, so compare it with how many were sold.
| Year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injured | Deaths | TSBs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 |
| 2025 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 82 |
| 2024 | 87 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 152 |
| 2023 | 133 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 189 |
| 2022 | 380 | 11 | 6 | 11 | 0 | 155 |
| 2021 | 492 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 0 | 204 |
| 2020 | 1,891 | 21 | 5 | 33 | 0 | 273 |
| 2019 | 588 | 24 | 3 | 28 | 0 | 128 |
| 2018 | 1,805 | 25 | 5 | 30 | 0 | 173 |
| 2017 | 2,690 | 39 | 15 | 56 | 0 | 249 |
| 2016 | 1,135 | 36 | 10 | 19 | 0 | 176 |
| 2015 | 1,106 | 29 | 20 | 34 | 0 | 128 |
| 2014 | 2,087 | 47 | 104 | 41 | 4 | 146 |
| 2013 | 2,755 | 50 | 90 | 55 | 0 | 155 |
| 2012 | 617 | 40 | 3 | 28 | 0 | 43 |
| 2011 | 1,353 | 41 | 7 | 39 | 0 | 49 |
| 2010 | 2,129 | 32 | 3 | 23 | 0 | 49 |
The vehicle systems named most often in Ford Escape complaints (one complaint can name several).
In the owners’ own words, as filed with NHTSA. Unverified reports; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
Rear view camera fails frequently displaying a distorted image or no image with an error message. This creates danger to all parties involved and unnecessary risk to property. Manufacturer issued a recall in October 2025 and has failed to provide a timely repair, they should face reprimand.
Ford issued TSB 22-2229 (and earlier TSB 19-2208) specifically covering 2018 2.0L EcoBoost engines with coolant intrusion into the cylinders. The Root Cause: Ford redesigned the engine block around mid-2019 because the original design allowed coolant to pool in small grooves between the cylinder bores, eventually degrading the head gasket or cracking the cylinder wall. Error code * P0316 â misfire detected during startup. Ford dealer estimate $12,700 for the Repair. A new engine block.. Ford customer care says there is no assistance available because the vehicle is out of warranty. It has 60,555 miles.
When attempting to turn, the steering wheel locked up, loosened, locked up, loosened, locked up, loosened
Recall under 25SA9 has not been remedied a whole year later. Not having my back up camera has caused safety incidents. And a few damages from things I could not see
On [XXX], I was driving the 2017 Ford Escape and while attempting to merge onto [XXX] at Greencastle, PA, the vehicle started to lose power and I couldn't accelerate to the speed of other traffic. I was almost hit on the left side by a tractor/trailer and the car behind me almost rear ended my car. While being at an almost stand-stii in the right lane of [XXX], traffic had to swerve to the left lane to avoid me. With much difficulty, I was able to get the car to the side of the road, where it totally shut off & wouldn't restart for almost 40 minutes. After having the car evaluated, it was determined that coolant was leaking onto the cylinders. I had been losing coolant & experiencing other …
At first, I just bought it two weeks ago. It was smoke coming from the engine and there was no coolant. The coolant wasnât holding in the car now I was driving last night. I had coolant in it and there was just flames coming out by where the Oil is
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while reversing, the rearview camera image was blank, inverted, or flickered on and off. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that parts were unavailable for the recall repair. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
Cylinder cracked due to Coolant intrusion. A Customer Satisfaction Program was opened 21N12 however it closed last November. My vehicle is under the milage for the fix.
Repair instructions and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about known issues. A TSB is not a recall, and the repair is usually free only while the car is under warranty; ask your dealer for the bulletin number.
This bulletin supersedes 25-2326. Reason for update: update the service procedure to include the fuel tank isolation valve replacement, update the causal part number, and increase the labor time allowance to include the fuel tank isolation valve replacement. Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P2450 stored in the powertrain control module (PCM). This may be due to the software in the PCM and/or the fuel tank isolation valve.
This bulletin supersedes 25-2326. Reason for update: update the service procedure to include the fuel tank isolation valve replacement, update the causal part number, and increase the labor time allowance to include the fuel tank isolation valve replacement. Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P2450 stored in the powertrain control module (PCM). This may be due to the software in the PCM and/or the fuel tank isolation valve.
This article supersedes TSB 25-2466 to add Bronco Sport, Escape, Maverick and Corsair, as well as removing Expedition and Navigator. One time use parts for Corsair and Bronco Sport were also added to the parts list. Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit a headliner rattle or sagging condition around the roof opening panel. This may be due to the adhesive separating from the headliner substrate.
Quality improvements include: -Addresses a bug that may cause updates to fail
Quality improvements include: -ePrivacy enhancements
Some 2023-2025 Escape vehicles built on or before 16-Sep-2024 equipped with 1.5L EcoBoost engine may exhibit an "Engine Coolant Over-Temperature" warning message displayed in the IPC and an illuminated MIL with DTCs P1285 and/or P1299 stored in the powertrain control module (PCM) during hard acceleration or under high load conditions. This may be due to machining chips trapped in the cylinder head causing a potential blockage in the coolant passage near the cylinder head temperature 2 (CHT2) port. To diagnose this condition, start the vehicle and idle for 15 minutes. Perform a road test at a t
Customer Satisfaction Program 26N15 Certain 2020-2026 Model Year Escape and 2021-2026 Model Year Corsair Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) â High Voltage Battery Replacement
For Various Ford and Lincoln vehicles, if diagnostics lead to the replacement of the front seat cushion cover J-clips, lower-level service parts are now available. Use service part W709919-S901 if the J-clip is completely detached from the seat cover and W715386-S424 if the clip is still partially attached. It is not necessary to replace the seat cover if only the J-clip is separating from the cover. Refer to PTS Home > Technical Assistance > Technical Support Videos > Section 501- Body and Paint > Seat J-Clips. For claiming, use causal parts from list below and labor operations 63100A and 631
Customer Satisfaction Program 25M03 Certain 2020-2025 Model Year Escape, 2021-2025 Model Year Corsair and 2022- 2025 Model Year Maverick Vehicles equipped with a 2.5L Hybrid or Plug-In Hybrid engine - Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) Differential Pressure Sensor Replacement, if Required After Dealer Evaluation
Some 2021-2026 Ford/Lincoln vehicles may exhibit various symptoms including but not limited to the auto start/stop system not operating as intended with a "Check Charging System" message in the instrument panel cluster (IPC) while the charging system is operating properly with no charging related diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) stored. This may be due to someone using an aftermarket programmer to change the body control module (BCM) configuration to disable the auto start/stop system or perform other unsupported programming modifications. To correct this condition on F-150 and Bronco vehicles,
This bulletin supersedes 26-2194. Reason for update: update the Parts list to correct a part description " Loctite 638", update the claim quantity for the drain/fill plug, update the claim quantity of the wheel hub bolts (Corsair) and limited the parts list for Edge/Nautilus to only the rear drive unit fluid. Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit all of the following conditions: Shudder chatter condition, most noticeable at low speeds turning No relevant diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) present This may be due to internal rear drive unit (RDU) fluid contaminat
Quality improvements include: -Updates the gear shift lock diagnostic logic to prevent false wrench lights
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opens these when complaints point to a possible safety defect. Many end in a recall.
NHTSA is opening this audit query to investigate whether Healey Brothers Ford, LLC of Beacon, New York, has complied with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. The Safety Act requires, among other things, that a manufacturer notify its dealers of defects related to motor vehicle safety and noncompliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and in turn that a dealer not deliver a new vehicle subject to a recall unless the recall remedy has been performed. 4
On September 23, 2020, Ford Motor Company (Ford) filed a noncompliance recall report under 49 CFR Part 573 (NHTSA Recall No. 20V-575), recalling 620,246 Model Year (MY) 2020 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, Explorer, Mustang, Transit, Expedition, Escape, Ranger and Edge, and Lincoln Nautilus and Corsair vehicles for a noncompliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 111, Rear Visibility. Ford's recall described the noncompliance as insufficient electrical conductivity with
On April 11, 2024, NHTSAâs Office of Defects Investigation (âODIâ) opened this Recall Query (âRQâ) to investigate the adequacy of, including various safety concerns associated with, the remedy program in recalls 22V-859 (filed Nov. 18, 2022) and 24V-187 (filed Mar. 8, 2024). The vehicle population associated with these recalls includes certain MY 2020-2022 Ford Escape vehicles and MY 2021-2023 Ford Bronco Sport vehicles equipped with 1.5L engines. The safety defect in each recall invol
On July 7, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE23-013 to investigate instances of check arm bracket failure in the front doors in model year (MY) 2020-2021 Ford Escape vehicles. At the time of opening, ODI received 118 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) alleging this failure. To date, ODI has received 593 VOQs alleging this failure, with a variety of reported failure conditions. The most common reported failure condition was reduced door functionality (e.g. door was more di
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-spe
In December 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation based on 235 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) alleging doors failed to latch when closed, and/or inadvertently opened while driving, on model year (MY) 2012-2014 Ford Fiesta, and 2013-2014 Fusion and Lincoln MKZ. Some VOQs reported the failure occurred after the latch had been remedied under a prior recall which involved fracture of the latch pawl spring tab due to thermally induced cyclic fatigue. Other VOQ
On July 16, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation (PE) to investigate alleged instances of sudden stalling without warning on model year (MY) 2013 Ford Escape vehicles equipped with 1.6L GTDI turbocharged engines. Complaints alleged that vehicles stalled due to engine overheating, resulting in a delayed or no restart condition. When the investigation was opened, ODI had received 40 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs). At this time, ODI has received 17
In January, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation based on consumers' allegations of doors failing to latch and/or inadvertently opening on model year (MY) 2012-2013 Ford Focus vehicles (subject vehicles).ODI has received 464 unique reports related to the alleged problem, with over 200 claiming that the door(s) opened inadvertently while the vehicle was in motion.One consumer alleged an injury that occurred while driving when a door inadvertently opened and
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation public data (complaints, manufacturer communications, investigations), model years 2010 and later. Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA.
In complaints filed with NHTSA for model years 2010–2026, owners most often name: engine, power train, unknown or other. 19,281 complaints are on record.
No. A complaint is an unverified report from an owner. A technical service bulletin (TSB) is the manufacturer telling dealers how to fix a known issue; it is not a safety recall and is usually covered only under warranty. A recall is a formal safety action, and its repair is free.
File a vehicle safety complaint at NHTSA.gov. NHTSA reads every report, and patterns of complaints are what open defect investigations and, eventually, recalls.
