Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
2014 Ford Escape — Known Issues & Recalls
Complaints from Jan 2020 to Dec 2024
The most reported issue is engine problems (445 complaints). 47 complaints involved crashes. 102 involved fires.
Open Safety Recalls (16)
NHTSA Campaign: 18V471000
Component: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Ford Escape, and 2013-2016 Ford Fusion vehicles, equipped with six-speed automatic transmissions. The bushing that attaches the transmission shifter cable to the transmission may degrade over time and cause the bushing to detach from the transmission. The condition could allow the driver to move the shift lever to Park and remove the ignition key, while the transmission may not be in Park, with no warning message or audible chime.
Risk: If the vehicle is exited without the transmission being in Park and without the parking brake being applied, the vehicle may unexpectedly move, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shifter cable bushing, free of charge. The recall began September 20, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S20. Note: Owners are directed to use the parking brake until the recall remedy repairs can be made.
NHTSA Campaign: 14V239000
Component: STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Escape vehicles manufactured October 5, 2011, through April 10, 2014. Due to an assembly misalignment between the exterior door handle and the door outer panel, the affected vehicles have doors that may be difficult to close or may possibly open while driving.
Risk: A door that opens unexpectedly may result in an unrestrained occupant falling from the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and correct the mounting of the door handles, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 30, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S03.
NHTSA Campaign: 17V472000
Component: SEAT BELTS
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Ford F-150 and E-350, 2014-2015 Ford Escape, and 2015 Lincoln MKC vehicles. Improperly manufactured bolts may have been used to install certain seats, seatbacks, seatbelt buckles, or seatbelt anchors on these vehicles.
Risk: The improperly manufactured bolts may fracture. If a seat, seatback, or seatbelt anchor attaching bolt fractures, the affected component may not be properly secured, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected bolts, free of charge. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed September 8, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available in the fourth quarter of 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S17.
NHTSA Campaign: 16V643000
Component: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Ford Focus, 2013-2015 Ford Escape and Ford C-MAX, 2015 Lincoln MKC and Ford Mustang, and 2014-2016 Ford Transit Connect vehicles. A component within the door latches may break, preventing the doors from latching and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
Risk: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the door latches with an improved part, free of charge. The recall began on January 27, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S30.
NHTSA Campaign: 17V209000
Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014 Escape, 2014-2015 Fiesta ST, 2013-2014 Fusion and 2013-2015 Transit Connect vehicles equipped with 1.6L GTDI engines. If the vehicle is started and driven with an insufficient level of coolant within the engine cooling system, the engine cylinder head may overheat, crack and leak oil.
Risk: If the cylinder head cracks and leaks oil, the oil may contact a hot engine or exhaust component, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install a coolant level sensor and the supporting hardware and software, free of charge. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed April 21, 2017. The recall began on January 5, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S09.
NHTSA Campaign: 14V597000
Component: AIR BAGS
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Ford C-Max vehicles manufactured January 19, 2012, to November 21, 2013; Ford Fusion vehicles manufactured February 3, 2012, to August 24, 2013; Ford Escape vehicles manufactured October 5, 2011, to November 1, 2013; and Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured April 25, 2012, to September 30, 2013. The coating on portions of the Restraint Control Module (RCM) may crack, and when exposed to humidity, circuits on the printed circuit board may short.
Risk: The short circuits could cause the frontal air bags, side curtain air bags and the seat belt pretensioners to not function as intended when needed, increasing the risk of occupant injury in the event of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the RCM, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. The recall began on May 26,2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S21.
NHTSA Campaign: 14V237000
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 C-MAX, and Escape vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the restraint control module (RCM) may have errors in the programming software which may result in a delayed deployment of the side-curtain rollover air bag.
Risk: If the side-curtain rollover air bag is delayed in deploying in certain rollover circumstances, the risk of injury to the passengers is increased.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the RCM, free of charge. The recall began on May 30, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S04.
NHTSA Campaign: 14V525000
Component: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2014 Ford Focus vehicles manufactured May 1, 2014, to May 24, 2014, 2014 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured on June 6, 2014, and 2015 Lincoln MKC vehicles manufactured June 4, 2014, to July 7, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the Fuel Delivery Module (FDM) may crack between the filter body and the filter cap, possibly resulting in low fuel pressure.
Risk: A reduction in fuel pressure may result in a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the FDM, free of charge. The recall began in September 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S20.
NHTSA Campaign: 15V005000
Component: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
Ford Motor Company (Ford) notified the agency on January 8, 2015, that they are recalling certain model year 2014 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured April 15, 2014, to May 8, 2014, and 2015 Lincoln MKC vehicles manufactured April 21, 2014, to May 15, 2014. On April 30, 2015, Ford expanded the recall to cover an additional 45,505 vehicles, including certain model year 2014-2015 Ford Transit Connect vehicles manufactured November 11, 2013, to August 29, 2014, 2014-2015 Ford Fiesta vehicles manufactured April 10, 2014, to June 17, 2014 and 2014 Ford Edge vehicles manufactured April 30, 2014, to May 21, 2014. Improper nickel plating of components within the fuel pump may result in the fuel pump failing.
Risk: If the fuel pump fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began on February 27, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S30.
NHTSA Campaign: 14V495000
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Escape vehicles manufactured October 5, 2011, to April 1, 2013, and equipped with 2.0 liter engines and Focus ST vehicles manufactured February 14, 2012, to October 14, 2013, and equipped with 2.0 liter engines. Insufficient compression in the engine wiring harness splices to the Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP) sensor may provide incorrect signals to the powertrain control module (PCM).
Risk: The incorrect signals could cause the vehicle to hesitate or the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the current crimped splices with new splices, free of charge. The recall began in October 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S17.
NHTSA Campaign: 15V406000
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured May 19, 2014, to February 6, 2015, and Transit Connect vehicles manufactured May 11, 2014, to July 2, 2015. Due to a software incompatibility issue, the instrument panel cluster be inoperative including a blank multiple functional display (MFD), and non-functional warning chimes, messages and warning lights. Specific warning chimes, messages and warning lights. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Control and Displays."
Risk: If the instrument cluster is inoperative, the driver of may not be warned of safety related issues such as low tire pressures or disabled air bags, increasing the risk of personal injury or a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument panel software, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15C03.
NHTSA Campaign: 14V164000
Component: SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ vehicles manufactured August 15, 2012, through September 10, 2013, 2013-2014 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured June 5, 2012, through August 12, 2013, and 2013-2014 Ford C-Max vehicles manufactured from July 23, 2012, through May 28, 2013. The driver and passenger seatback assemblies may have been produced with sub-standard weld joints used to attach the seat back recliner mechanism to the seat frame. The affected seat backs may have insufficient strength to meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 207, "Seating Systems."
Risk: The back of the subject seats may become loose or lean while driving and potentially increase the risk of injury in certain crashes.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seatback, free of charge. The recall began on May 30, 2014. Owners may contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14C03.
NHTSA Campaign: 14V403000
Component: VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2014 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured October 15, 2013, through October 22, 2013. The panorama roof glass may not be properly bonded to the attaching bracket.
Risk: If the glass panel is improperly bonded, the glass may separate from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Ford has notified owners. Dealers will inspect each vehicle and replace the front roof glass if its production date and sequence number falls within the affected range, free of charge. The recall is began on July 14, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S13.
NHTSA Campaign: 20V331000
Component: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Fiesta, 2013-2014 Fusion, 2015 Mustang, 2013-2015 Escape and C-Max, 2012-2015 Focus, 2014-2016 Transit Connect, 2013-2014 Lincoln MKZ, and 2015 MKC vehicles. These vehicles were previously recalled and repaired under recalls 15V-246, 16V-643 or 17V-210, however the repair may not have been completed properly. A component within the door latches may break making the doors difficult to latch and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.
Risk: A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the latch date codes to confirm if the repair was done correctly, and replace the side door latches if necessary, free of charge. Owners will also have the option to inspect their own vehicle's door latches and enter the date codes into a website to determine if the latches are correct. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 27, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S30.
NHTSA Campaign: 22V413000
Component: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2019 Escape, 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2016 Fusion, 2013-2021 Transit Connect, and 2015-2018 Edge vehicles. The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.
Risk: A damaged or missing bushing may prevent the vehicle from shifting into the intended gear, and cause the vehicle to move in an unexpected direction. Additionally, the vehicle may roll after the driver selects the 'Park' position. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the under hood shift bushing and add a protective cap over the shift cable bushing, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 1, 2022. Remedy parts are expected to be available in 4th Quarter 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed October 27, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S43.
NHTSA Campaign: 26V011000
Component: EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape, and 2015-2016 MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
Risk: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed March 6, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S01. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 16, 2026.
Owner-Reported Issues (20 of 2037)
Engine →6 issues
Your transmission suddenly failed completely after you changed the transmission fluid, leaving the car unable to move. The car would decelerate unexpectedly and couldn't accelerate properly, which could be dangerous if it happened while driving anywhere but your neighborhood. A mechanic inspection determined you need a complete transmission replacement rather than a repair, with quotes starting around $6,000. The fix will require replacing the entire 6F35 transmission assembly.
Parts you may need:
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Your dashboard displayed a high engine temperature warning, and when you pulled over, you discovered a fire under the hood. You attempted to extinguish it with a standard fire extinguisher, but the fire department had to respond and fully extinguish the flames. The vehicle was towed to a shop for inspection and repair.
Parts you may need:
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Your engine has failed four times due to coolant leaking into the cylinders—a known problem with this model year. Even though a previous recall repair was performed, your engine continues to overheat and crack, causing sudden loss of power and stalling in traffic, which creates a collision risk. The overheating also poses a fire hazard under the hood. The independent mechanic confirmed coolant is entering the combustion chamber, and the problem has returned even after multiple engine replacements.
Parts you may need:
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Your 2014 Ford Escape is losing coolant consistently and requires constant refilling, and you've noticed a coolant smell near the engine. The low coolant can cause your engine to overheat and potentially crack the cylinder head, which could lead to an oil leak and fire risk. You've had repairs done at a Ford dealership including replacement of the coolant valve assembly, outlet flange, and related parts for $1,230, but the low coolant problem persists even after service. Getting the coolant system properly sealed and diagnosing the source of the leak will be necessary to resolve this ongoing issue.
Parts you may need:
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Your car is leaking coolant into cylinder 4, which triggers a misfire error code (P0304). The coolant keeps draining from your system, and you've had multiple repair attempts without success. The Ford dealership has identified an engine block problem as the likely cause, which will require significant engine work to fix.
Parts you may need:
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Your car is leaking coolant into the engine cylinders, which is causing a sweet smell from the exhaust. This is happening at very low mileage, which suggests a manufacturing defect. This typically requires engine inspection and repair of the internal seals or gaskets that are allowing coolant to enter the combustion chambers.
Parts you may need:
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Electrical System →4 issues
Your backup camera intermittently stops working and shows a blue screen or error message instead of the camera feed. The problem happens more often when your wipers are running, which is frustrating when weather is poor and you need the camera most. A service technician has confirmed the issue and noted there's a recall affecting other model years.
Parts you may need:
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Your backup camera frequently displays the video upside down or goes completely black with no warning lights or messages. This happens suddenly while you're backing up, forcing you to stop immediately since you can't see what's behind your car. The problem has been occurring regularly for over a year, making you hesitant to use reverse. The issue likely involves the camera connection, wiring, or the display unit and may require inspection of the camera connector, wiring harness, or infotainment system.
Parts you may need:
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Your 2014 Ford Escape wouldn't start, and the dealership determined the instrument cluster panel needed replacement — a $3,000+ repair completed in July 2025. You believe this should have been covered under Ford recall 15V406, but the dealership said your vehicle wasn't eligible despite overlapping production dates. A malfunctioning instrument cluster can affect your ability to see critical driving information like speed and fuel level, which is a safety concern. The fix involved replacing the entire instrument cluster panel.
Parts you may need:
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Your passenger side door won't lock. This is a security concern since the door cannot be secured while driving or parked. The issue likely involves the door lock mechanism or its electrical actuator, which may need repair or replacement.
Parts you may need:
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Engine And Engine Cooling →3 issues
Your engine overheated while driving, causing the temperature gauge to spike and the check engine light to come on. When you refilled the coolant reservoir, it emptied again shortly after. You found that the cylinder head was cracked, which is likely causing coolant to leak out and the overheating problem. Fixing this will require the cylinder head to be replaced or professionally repaired.
Parts you may need:
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Your Escape started shaking while driving at 25 MPH with white smoke coming from the exhaust, the engine overheated, and the coolant level dropped significantly even after you refilled it. A mechanic found that cylinder #3 was misfiring due to a stuck spark plug that needed replacement, and the check engine light came on. The issue may involve removing and replacing the stuck spark plug and possibly checking the cooling system for internal leaks.
Parts you may need:
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Your 2014 Ford Escape is losing coolant from the thermostat housing, causing repeated warning messages including "Engine Coolant Low - Service" and "High Temp-Stop Safely." Even after multiple repair attempts by mechanics (including replacing the coolant outlet, hoses, and connector assembly), the coolant leak keeps coming back. The engine may overheat while driving if the coolant continues to leak. The thermostat housing will likely need to be replaced or repaired to stop the leak.
Parts you may need:
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Electrical System,unknown Or Other →2 issues
Your 2014 Ford Escape is showing signs of engine coolant failure with oil mixing into the coolant reservoir, causing the check engine light to stay on and preventing you from passing emissions tests. The engine overheating sensor has been shutting off the engine unexpectedly, creating a stalling hazard in traffic. Additionally, your electrical system is producing excessive static that prevents radio operation. The fix will likely involve diagnosing and repairing the coolant system, replacing faulty sensors, and addressing the electrical issues causing the static interference.
Parts you may need:
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Your backup camera system has been malfunctioning for about two years. The warning beep sounds when nothing is behind your car, the camera display sometimes appears inverted or doesn't work at all, and you've heard Ford Escapes have recall issues for these problems. Since you rely on this feature due to a neck injury that limits your head movement, this is a significant safety concern. A repair may involve replacing the backup camera unit, the camera wiring harness, or the infotainment control module that processes the camera feed.
Parts you may need:
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Power Train,engine →2 issues
Your car suddenly stopped while driving at low speed, and had difficulty restarting. When it did start, it would only go a short distance before stopping again. A broken transmission line caused the entire transmission to fail and require replacement, resulting in a $4,500 repair bill.
Parts you may need:
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After taking your car to the dealer for a recall service, your transmission has started slipping out of gear while driving and won't re-engage without shifting to park or neutral first. The problem is worse in the morning after sitting overnight, and your car has even slid in the driveway with the parking brake on. Since no diagnostic code appears, the dealer and another shop have charged you $1,600 without fixing it, and both Ford and the dealer say they can't help — but this creates a serious safety risk if the transmission fails while you're driving in traffic or on a hill.
Parts you may need:
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Power Train →1 issue
Your transmission stopped working while you were driving, forcing you to coast into a parking lot and have the car towed. The dealership diagnosed a complete transmission failure requiring replacement at a cost of approximately $7,000. Your car had been serviced at the dealership regularly except for occasional oil changes.
Parts you may need:
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Electrical System,unknown Or Other,visibility/wiper →1 issue
Your backup camera isn't working properly when you shift into Reverse. You may see a blue screen, a message saying the camera is unavailable, or the image appears upside down and cuts out after a few seconds. Fixing this will likely involve diagnosing the camera wiring, connector, or the camera unit itself, and may require replacement parts or a software update.
Parts you may need:
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Unknown Or Other →1 issue
Your backup camera frequently malfunctions—sometimes displaying error messages, showing the image upside down, or not displaying anything at all. This issue started when you purchased the vehicle and has persisted for over a year despite the dealership claiming to have replaced the camera. Fixing this will likely require a genuine replacement of the backup camera unit and proper installation to ensure correct orientation and functionality.
Parts you may need:
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