Ford · Known Issues
2001-2025 Ford Escape Problems: 46 Known Issues
2001-2025 model years · 13,296+ owner reports · Updated October 2026
All years · All trims · All engines
Choose the year and equipment for your written issues and visual request.
2001-2025 model years · 13,296+ owner reports · Updated October 2026
All years · All trims · All engines
Choose the year and equipment for your written issues and visual request.
According to Au7o's analysis of 13,296+ owner reports, the 2001-2025 Ford Escape has 46 documented known issues, with 31 rated critical. The most serious are Side Door Latch Failure - Door May Open While Driving ($0-$0 repair), Automatic Transmission Failure and Loss of Drive ($100-$4,500 repair), Cruise Control Cable / Throttle Sticking and Unintended Acceleration ($150-$700 repair), ABS Module Brake Fluid Leak and Underhood Fire Risk ($150-$1,800 repair), 1.5L EcoBoost coolant leaking into the cylinders — bulletin 22-2322, Front Subframe Rust and Lower Control Arm Separation ($1,500-$3,500 repair), 2.0L EcoBoost Coolant Intrusion - Open-Deck Block Design Failure ($0-$9,500 repair), Hybrid engine failure can release oil and fuel vapor and cause a fire — recall 23V380, Fuel Tank Strap Corrosion and Fuel Tank Drop Risk ($250-$900 repair), Cylinder Head Ball-Plug Ejection Causing Oil Leak, Fire, and Engine Seizure (1.5L EcoBoost, Recall 25V372) ($0-$0 repair), Fuel Pump Failure Causing Sudden Stalling - Recall 15V005 (Ford 14S30), Engine Wiring Harness Splice to the MAP Sensor Loses Compression — Hesitation and Stalling (Recalls 14V495 / 15V813, Ford 14S17) ($0-$0 repair), EGR Valve Failure — Unexpected Loss of Drive Power (Recall 26S10 / NHTSA 26V122000), Engine Block Heater Can Overheat While Plugged In - Fire Risk (Recall 25S52 / NHTSA 25V343000), .
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER:RETRACTOR
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Corsair and Escape vehicles. The seat belt retractors for the left and right rear passenger seats may not be securely fastened.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling one 2021 Escape vehicle equipped with a 2.5L hybrid powertrain. The high voltage battery may fail, resulting in a sudden loss of drive power.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP:CONTROL/DRIVE MODULE
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, and 2021-2022 Bronco Sport vehicles. The fuel delivery module may leak inside the fuel tank, causing low fuel pressure which could result in an engine stall.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Bronco Sport and Escape vehicles. The rear brake linings may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can affect braking performance. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022 Corsair and 2021-2022 Escape vehicles equipped with a 2.5L Hybrid powertrain. The high voltage battery may fail, resulting in a sudden loss of drive power.
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According to Au7o's analysis of 13,296+ owner reports, the 2001-2025 Ford Escape has 46 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: Side Door Latch Failure - Door May Open While Driving, Automatic Transmission Failure and Loss of Drive, Cruise Control Cable / Throttle Sticking and Unintended Acceleration. Of these, 31 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.
The 2001-2025 Ford Escape has 46 known issues documented across 13,296+ owner reports. 31 issues are rated critical: Side Door Latch Failure - Door May Open While Driving and Automatic Transmission Failure and Loss of Drive and Cruise Control Cable / Throttle Sticking and Unintended Acceleration and ABS Module Brake Fluid Leak and Underhood Fire Risk and 1.5L EcoBoost coolant leaking into the cylinders — bulletin 22-2322 and Front Subframe Rust and Lower Control Arm Separation and 2.0L EcoBoost Coolant Intrusion - Open-Deck Block Design Failure and Hybrid engine failure can release oil and fuel vapor and cause a fire — recall 23V380 and Fuel Tank Strap Corrosion and Fuel Tank Drop Risk and Cylinder Head Ball-Plug Ejection Causing Oil Leak, Fire, and Engine Seizure (1.5L EcoBoost, Recall 25V372) and Fuel Pump Failure Causing Sudden Stalling - Recall 15V005 (Ford 14S30) and Engine Wiring Harness Splice to the MAP Sensor Loses Compression — Hesitation and Stalling (Recalls 14V495 / 15V813, Ford 14S17) and EGR Valve Failure — Unexpected Loss of Drive Power (Recall 26S10 / NHTSA 26V122000) and Engine Block Heater Can Overheat While Plugged In - Fire Risk (Recall 25S52 / NHTSA 25V343000) and Front Seatback Recliner Weld Failure — Seat Back Collapses or Leans (Recall 14V164) and Shift Cable Bushing Degrades and Detaches — Vehicle Can Roll Away in "Park" (Recall 18V471 / Ford 18S20, and 22V413) and Restraints Control Module Coating Cracks — Airbags and Seat Belt Pretensioners May Not Deploy (Recall 14V597 / Ford 14S21) and 1.6L EcoBoost Engine Compartment Fuel Line Splits — Fuel Leak and Fire (Recall 12V336, Reinspection 13V584) and 1.6L EcoBoost Cylinder Head Cracks from Localized Overheating — Oil Leak and Engine Compartment Fire (Recall 13V583) and AWD Power Transfer Unit (PTU) Overheating, Fluid Leak, and Failure and Fuel injector can crack and leak fuel under the hood — recall 25V467 and Cracked engine oil separator can leak oil — recall 22V191 and Hybrid can shift itself into neutral while driving — recall 24V330 and Brakes may not meet the federal standard if the brake booster fails — recall 21V922 and Hybrid wrench light or Stop Safely Now warning (owner reports) and Fuel pump module can crack and leak fuel — recall 16V777 and Electric power steering assist can shut off — recall 14V284 and Windshield wipers can work intermittently or stop — recall 26V117 and P0741 — Torque Converter Clutch Failure in the 6F35 Automatic and Plug-in hybrid battery cell internal short circuit — Ford 25SC4 follow-up and Throttle body fault can cut engine power to limp-home — NHTSA investigation PE13-003. Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.
Repair costs for known Ford Escape issues range from $0 to $9,500, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. The most critical issue, Side Door Latch Failure - Door May Open While Driving, typically costs $0-$0 to repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.
Reliability varies across model years of the Ford Escape. Based on documented issues, problems are most commonly reported in earlier model years. Au7o recommends checking the specific known issues for your target year before purchasing, and having a pre-purchase inspection performed by a qualified mechanic. Our known issues database covers the 2001-2025 Ford Escape with 46 documented issues documented across 13,296+ owner reports.
The 2013-2015 Ford Escape is subject to a major safety recall affecting side door latches. The pawl spring tab inside the door latch can fracture due to stress in high-temperature/humidity climates, causing the door to not close properly or to open unexpectedly while driving. For… Repairs typically run $0-$0. Severity: high.
Complaints show a recurring pattern of automatic transmission failure on early Escapes, including harsh shifting, no movement in Drive, slipping, grinding, and in severe cases unexpected gear changes. Some owners report the transmission suddenly shifting abnormally at highway spe… Repairs typically run $100-$4,500. Severity: high.
A strong complaint pattern on 2001-2004 Escapes involves the throttle sticking open or engine speed hanging high, sometimes after full pedal application or in cold weather. Owners describe the vehicle continuing to accelerate after lifting off the pedal, very high idle, backfirin… Repairs typically run $150-$700. Severity: high.
Early Escape complaints show a clear pattern of brake fluid leaking from the master cylinder reservoir into the ABS module connector, leading to ABS warning lights, loss of braking assist, smoke, melted wiring, and in some cases underhood fires. Several owners specifically descri… Repairs typically run $150-$1,800. Severity: high.
Some 2017-2019 Escapes with the 1.5L EcoBoost may have a low coolant level, white exhaust smoke and/or run rough, with or without the check engine light and only misfire or overheat codes stored. Ford says this may be due to coolant intrusion into the cylinder. Applies to: 2017-2… Severity: high.
A major pattern in early Ford Escape complaints involves severe corrosion of the front subframe/crossmember, especially in salt-belt states. Owners report the lower control arm separating from the rusted subframe, causing sudden steering pull, wheel misalignment, clunking, and lo… Repairs typically run $1,500-$3,500. Severity: high.
The 2.0L EcoBoost in 2015-2019 Ford Escape suffers from the same fundamental open-deck block design defect as the 1.5L variant. Coolant leaks internally through the cylinder head/block interface into the combustion chambers. Ford issued TSB 19-2208 in 2019 (later updated to TSB 2… Repairs typically run $0-$9,500. Severity: high.
Isolated manufacturing issues can cause the 2.5L hybrid engine to fail with an engine block or oil pan breach. Because the hybrid system keeps propelling the vehicle, oil and fuel vapor can keep escaping and collect near hot exhaust parts, which can cause an underhood fire. Engin… Severity: high.
Complaint data for early second-year vehicles includes reports of fuel tank straps rotting away and allowing the fuel tank to fall or sag. This is a serious corrosion-related safety issue because it can damage fuel lines, create leaks, and leave the vehicle stranded. Repairs typically run $250-$900. Severity: high.
Select 2023-2025 Escape (and 2025 Bronco Sport) vehicles with the 1.5L EcoBoost engine left the cylinder-head supplier (Nemak Monterrey) with insufficient heat treatment, leaving the head hardness below specification and the ball plugs without enough retention force. During opera… Repairs typically run $0-$0. Severity: high.
The 2014 Ford Escape is one of the vehicles named in NHTSA recall 15V005000, which Ford (recall number 14S30) reported to the agency on January 8, 2015. The Escape was in the original scope of the campaign, covering units built April 15, 2014 through May 8, 2014. Improper nickel… Severity: high.
The engine wiring harness splices that feed the Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP) sensor were crimped with insufficient compression on 2013 Escapes built January 11, 2012 through April 1, 2013. The loose splice sends an incorrect MAP signal to the powertrain control module, and th… Repairs typically run $0-$0. Severity: high.
Certain 2025 Ford Escapes are covered by Ford recall 26S10. The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve may fail, and NHTSA states the failure can leave the vehicle with an unexpected loss of drive power. The safety consequence is the crash risk that comes with a vehicle unexpected… Severity: high.
Ford is recalling certain 2023-2025 Escape vehicles built with a 1.5L or 2.0L MPC engine and a factory engine block heater. On the affected vehicles, the engine block heater may overheat when the Escape is parked with the block heater plugged in. NHTSA lists the consequence plain… Severity: high.
Driver and passenger seatback assemblies on 2013-2014 Escapes built June 5, 2012 through August 12, 2013 were produced with sub-standard weld joints attaching the seat back recliner mechanism to the seat frame. The weld can fail, and the seat back becomes loose or leans rearward… Repairs typically run $0-$0. Severity: high.
The plastic bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission on the shift lever end degrades and can detach from the transmission. When it does, the transmission can be in a gear state different from what the shift lever and PRNDL display indicate. The dangerous case i… Repairs typically run $0-$0. Severity: high.
The conformal coating on portions of the Restraints Control Module printed circuit board can crack. When the cracked board is exposed to humidity, circuits on the PCB short out, and the frontal airbags, side curtain airbags and seat belt pretensioners may fail to function as inte… Repairs typically run $0-$0. Severity: high.
The very first crisis on the third-generation Escape: the engine compartment fuel line on 1.6L EcoBoost cars can split and leak fuel into the engine bay, where it can ignite. Ford recalled roughly 11,500 2013 Escapes in mid-2012 under NHTSA 12V336000 and took the extraordinary st… Repairs typically run $0-$0. Severity: high.
Separate from the coolant-into-the-cylinder failure, the 1.6L EcoBoost cylinder head itself can crack from localized overheating in the head casting. The crack lets engine oil escape onto hot engine and exhaust components, which can start an engine compartment fire. Ford recalled… Repairs typically run $0-$3,500. Severity: high.
On 3rd-generation AWD Escapes (primarily 2.0L EcoBoost AWD), the Power Transfer Unit (the right-angle gearbox that sends torque to the rear axle) holds only about one quart of fluid that Ford labels 'lifetime,' yet it runs continuously and runs hot. The fluid degrades and the uni… Repairs typically run $300-$1,800. Severity: high.
Content on this page was compiled with AI assistance using NHTSA complaints, TSBs, owner reports, and public automotive data. While we strive for accuracy, this information may contain errors. Always verify repair procedures and specifications with your vehicle's service manual or a qualified mechanic.
