Ford Escape Complaints (2021)

498 consumer complaints on file.

#11653628April 9, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V954000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The dealer was contacted. The dealer confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and informed the contact that a second notice would be mailed when parts were available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11652947April 5, 2025
ENGINE
When I change gears to reverse, it’s hard to put in gear and studders as well. I am not sure what the issue here is with it.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11651570March 30, 2025
ENGINE
My engine failed while driving. Towed to Ford dealership, found out about recall 23S27. Symptoms were the EXACT same but ford is refusing to cover warranty repairs because they said it did not throw the proper code. However ford has offered to cover half of the engine replacement, leaving me with a $4000 bill. Do I have any options? Is there a system of checks and balances that assures that ford is doing everything correctly on their end?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11651237March 28, 2025
STRUCTURE, SEAT BELTS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
See attached document for complaint.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11651219March 27, 2025
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Every time I get gas my engine stalls out citing an issue with the evap system — evap purge valve. This is not safe as it stalls out directly after filling the car up. The smell of gas is very prominent leading me to believe there could be a fire hazard associated with this as well.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11650882March 26, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Front driver door welds not holding and causing door to not shut properly.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11648468March 15, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
From the Ford website: "Power window switch chrome tip replacement Campaign/NHTSA# 22N17 Issue Date 2023-05-16" The tips peeled off and I get cuts on my fingers. Ford dealership, Golf Mill Ford in Niles IL, informed me this is a VIN specific issue and I needed to file this claim. Please advise.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11648095March 13, 2025
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I was driving my 2021 Ford Escape, that I have not yet owned for four years, that I purchased brand new from a Ford dealership. I was driving to work just as I do on a typical morning at interstate speeds, when suddenly, the car refused to upshift, slipping gears. The car became jerky. I tried to accelerate back up to speed. The car was not moving and the RPM reading shot into the red. I see a large vehicle approaching me, and I begin to feel terror that I could become the victim of a car crash, due to a faulty Ford transmission! This moment was psychologically damaging, as I feared for my life. Eventually, the car regained speed slowly and I continued on my way. Then, at stoplights, the car continued to jerk and shift gears. Once I reached my destination, the car slammed into park, throwing me toward the steering wheel. My husband towed my car home. It has been taken to a local dealership where I received a quote for a new transmission and an oil leak repair, totaling over $11,000. This car at trade-in value is worth a similar amount. The transmission fluid was tested and found to be burnt and containing traces of metal in the fluid. The dealership has been helpful in diagnosing the repair. But from Ford, this low-standard is unacceptable. I could have been killed, injured, and caused harm to others due to this faulty transmission. I have reason to believe based on a class action lawsuit that took place in March of 2024, Ford knowingly placed faulty parts and transmissions into Ford Escape models that were produced from 2009-2021. I have called Ford corporate. They offered little to no empathy, offering a small amount of assistance, which was highly disappointing.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11647794March 12, 2025
STRUCTURE:BODY
Schedule repair maintenance with Spirit Ford Dundee MI on my 2021 Ford Escape on 1/16/2024 for water leaking in the spare tire compartment which created moisture to collect on interior windows and smell like mold. Spirit Ford said that it was leaking from the rear light and that was replaced. We drove the car as it was fixed and never had a reason to look back in the spare tire compartment as we thought it was fix. Last week [XXX] when the weather was started warming for a day after having snow/rainy days we noticed the car smelling again and looked in spare tire compartment to find that was full of water all the way to the top. So apparently the issue was never fixed correctly. Schedule an appointment for repair maintenance on the vehicle 03/10/2025 for issue again. As of 4pm on 3/10/25 the car had not been looked at. I received a call around 5pm and was told that they ran it through the water testing and did not see anything leaking. On 03/11/2025 around 1:30pm my husband informed that the vehicle repair is now out of warranty and will not be covered and would cost $729 to replace the lift gate seal. I asked why the repair was not covered as it was never repaired correctly the first time when vehicle repair was under warranty and was told well, they replaced the light. But that 1st repair did not fix the water issue now we as the consumer is responsible for the repair when it should have been fixed correctly the first time. If the issue was never fixed the 1st time, how am I to trust them again to fix it for the $729 that I shouldn't have to pay as I stated before should have been fixed. But let's not forget Ron basically blamed us for driving it since last repair and implying that is why the water was leaking in the same place. We had to pay for a diagnostic fee of $165 to tell us that it could be the seal. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11645966March 3, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the high-voltage battery had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the dealer reset the check engine warning light. The contact stated that the following day after the reset, the check engine warning light illuminated a second time. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V869000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 129,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11645889March 2, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:FUEL GAUGE
There is an open recall that is unrepaired on the door but my problem is same as thousands of customers reporting a fuel issue to Ford. I spoke to Ford and the case manager agreed that it's so many customers calling on the Ford Escape fuel consumption issue and there should be a recall issued to fix whatever is causing it. My car had 13,000 miles on it used and I just made my second car payment. I began that week noticing something is not right. I hear a ticking at times in the engine, My MPG number on dashboard is rapidly flipping between random numbers from 99.9 MPG, down to 10 MPG and then 75 MPG and then 6 MPG and ect. I filled up and should have had 249 miles till empty and I got 147 miles before filling up again. Ford has recalls on 2021 Ford escapes for high pressured fuel injectors but only a customer satisfaction on my VIN. Now Ford said a code that alerts them my heating element is throwing a code, my USB charging ports are now throwing a code and stopped working. This is not normal. Why is this 2021 not recalled to replace injectors or whatever is the problem but other 2021 escapes are. Recall this before it breaks down and people owe like 20,000 left and no car. Thank you so much for your time and consideration. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11645384February 27, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V954000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that after coasting out of the garage the vehicle stalled, the shifter seized in park(P), and the message “Stop Safely Now” was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was towed to another dealer, Kendall Ford of Bend (2100 NE 3rd St, Bend, OR 97701); who diagnosed that the high-voltage battery had failed and needed to be replaced. The failure was related to the recall; however, the recall repair could not be completed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure was mileage was 51,988. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11645045February 26, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V954000 (Electrical System). The contact stated that while pulling out of the driveway, the message "Stop Safely Now" was displayed, and the vehicle inadvertently shifted into park(P) and failed to shift into the intended gear. The power train warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to two dealers where the failure was unable to be duplicated. The vehicle was towed to another dealer, but the failure was not duplicated. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 51,988.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11643209February 17, 2025
ENGINE
2021 Ford Escape 1.5L 19,502 miles Coolant loss with no visible leaks
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11642758February 14, 2025
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact stated that there was an abnormal sound coming from the front driver's side door. The door failed to stay ajar when needed. Additionally, the contact stated that the door swung open unexpectedly while parked on an angle. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was contacted, and the vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that the door needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11641410February 7, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The sunroof headliner will not retract and sags down into the rear view, making it difficult to see out the back of the car.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11641126February 6, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY/WIPER, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1. The Sunroof/Moonroof overhead fabric lining fell off the tracks when moving back, yes. 2. My safety was put at risk from the lining falling off the tracks and nearly completely covering my eyes and face while driving, which also puts the safety of others at risk. 3. I have heard numerous people and Ford Technicians noting that this is a common issue of the sunroof/moonroofs with other similar models. 4. It was completely inspected before financing at a dealership. 5. No prior symptoms or lights, I just tried to use my moonroof while driving on the highway a week ago and was nearly blinded
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11640109February 1, 2025
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
The fuel neck tube requires replacement as per the mechanic's assessment. When refueling, the pump frequently stops every 5-10 seconds, as though the tank is full, necessitating multiple restarts. This defect makes it difficult to ascertain when the tank is genuinely full, leading to the risk of overfilling. On two occasions, despite the pump's intermittent stopping, it eventually functioned normally but resulted in overfilling, causing fuel to overflow from the fuel neck. This issue has been deemed out of warranty; however, Ford has offered to cover 50% of the repair costs as a goodwill gesture. Nonetheless, I believe that this defect should be fully covered and that a recall is warranted due to its significant safety implications. Additionally, a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) exists for this issue, and there is a substantial online community documenting similar defects in the 2020-2023 Escape Hybrids. The estimated repair cost is $1,100, and the vehicle has less than 14,000 miles on the odometer. Enclosed are the diagnostic report (repairs pending), email correspondence from Ford, and the relevant TSB.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11640023January 31, 2025
STRUCTURE:BODY
The left front door stopper makes an abnormal sound, a popping noise when the door comes open.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11638842January 27, 2025
SEAT BELTS: REAR/OTHER:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH and at various speeds, the cruise control and several other features failed to activate. The contact stated that the air bag indicator and a message that the rear seat monitor default warning light were illuminated. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined to replace the driver's side seat belt buckle. The vehicle was not repaired because the dealer was waiting for the part to be received. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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