Ford Escape Complaints
758 consumer complaints on file.
- #11657518April 29, 2025STRUCTURE:BODY
My back passenger door will not lock. If I lock it from my ford app or key fob that back door stays unlocked. This puts my safety at risk because I’m a young female living in a big city known for sex trafficking. I could be followed to my car and I could lock the door but that door stays unlocked someone could kidnap me. Or what if I’m driving the car and the door flies open, that can cause a deadly accident. There was no warning signs or messages just a mere coincidence that I noticed it wasn’t locking. We took it into ford and they have found the issue but don’t want to cover it even though we pay for the primary care. I noticed that past models have been recalled for this issue and should be recalled again that this is something that should not be taken lightly. A lock on a door is not wear and tear when it doesn’t get used.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11657336April 28, 2025ENGINE
Lithia ford is Fresno worked on exhaust and replaced cat converter on September 5th 2024 for the dealer in which I purchased my vehicle. Ford did not put the support bracket that holds the exhaust and catalytic converter in place back on after the repair. I purchased the vehicle and after 1 month of driving it, the vehicle exhaust started to get really loud and began leaking exhaust fumes into the cab of the car. Car was taken to Tulare Ford to be checked when the missing bracket was discovered and work history was pulled on the vehicle showing Lithia’s direct connection to the exact missing part. Lithia ford refuses to take responsibility for their failure to properly secure the exhaust and catalytic converter which directly cause the issue at hand.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11657135April 28, 2025VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
While driving warnings for adaptive cruise, blind spot, forward collision, front camera, park aid etc start and then all the system quit. I have pictures. I took my car to dealership to be checked. At first I was told they could find nothing wrong. I showed them pictures of my alerts and messages on my ford pass app. I was told a software patch would be sent. I contacted them again to ask if there was more news. I was told not at this time. I saw there was a problem with this module on the 2025 escape.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11657127April 28, 2025ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
Vehicle will completely cut off when stopped at lights sometimes. And I have to turn off vehicle and restart it to get vehicle going again.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11656934April 26, 2025POWER TRAIN
The transmission will not select the gear. The selector in the engine bay will not select the gear. The local dealership in Cullman diagnosed it as the entire transmission and disclosed to us that they do not run diagnostics for specific parts, they replace the entire transmission at a cost of $9500.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11656774April 25, 2025ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
Timeline of Events: •~March 2024 – Ongoing: Intermittent system alerts begin appearing at random. Includes: •AWD Temporarily Disabled •Auto Hold System Fault •Park Aid Fault •Drive Mode Not Available •Hill Start AssistNot Available •Service AdvanceTrac •Pre-Collision Assist Not Available •Power Steering Loss •Cruise Control not working •BLIS acting erratic •Squeaky brakes and “locked up” feel when glitch occurs •4/11/24: First major cluster of alerts appears. All systems shut off at once. Power steering was lost, difficult to turn. •4/17/24: Vehicle brought in for oil change. Brakes, tires, battery all checked and are in good condition. •4/21/24: Alerts occur again while driving. Same issues appear and disappear at random. •4/22/24: Vehicle returned to dealership. Intermittent issues discussed. No clear resolution found. •4/25/24: Alerts triggered again. Becoming more frequent. Safety systems failing during normal driving.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11656551April 24, 2025BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS
Alert on my dashboard flashes and I have received several "Park Aid Malfunction" Alerts. It advises me the the park assist or sensing system has detected a problem. It states if you can not activate your sensing system or have frequent active park assist faults, please have system checked by an authorized dealer. I have taken it in to my dealer 2 times now to have it serviced and once again I have had the system go off again, the next day I was driving. It has gone off on 3/13/25, 3/17/25, 3/25/25, 4/10/25, 4/14/25. I only have 3,900 miles on it. I leased this car in August of 2024. This alarm scares the crap out of me when I am driving. This last time I called my dealer told me a new update is coming out in May and that I need to wait for that to come out. But seems every time they do an update, I keep getting this signal. I am very frustrated at this time. Can you look into it for me.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11655134April 17, 2025SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
When turning off my 2024 Ford Escape ST Line, if I sit in the vehicle for at least 15minutes to 30minutes there's a clicking noise coming from under the hood of the vehicle. Sounds like a ABS issue. I tried turning the vehicle back on, stepping on the brake pedal (push start) the brakes will go down into the floor, I then let off the brake, & proceed to start vehicle again and now the brakes are fine. I'm aware there's an issue, I was told from the dealership I have some sort of ABS problem, however the dealership will NOT repair unless there's a code reading the problem...
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11654895April 16, 2025STRUCTURE:BODY
Terrible wind noise when driving at speeds over 30 miles an hour. This can cause distractions while driving as it’s very noticeable.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11654797April 15, 2025UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Door welds were recalled and doors to replace have been on back order for months. My drivers side window now does not properly go up and down. Door pops when opened or closed and will not stay open if needed. My drivers side window also now has a scratch. I’m tired of waiting for a repair and still having to pay for a vehicle that is falling apart and nothing being done about it.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11654063April 11, 2025POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at 50 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated to respond as needed. No warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to drive to the residence. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The manufacturer transferred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to file a safety complaint. The approximate failure mileage was 73,925.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11653968April 10, 2025STRUCTURE:BODY
Problem Description Component/System Failed: The driver-side front door has been inoperable since April 2024, unable to open or close, linked to Ford’s Customer Satisfaction Program 23B56 (faulty door welds/hinges). Vehicle is available for inspection. Safety Risk: I must climb over the passenger seat to enter/exit, risking injury, especially in emergencies. My disabled veteran father, who shares the car, cannot drive it due to inaccessibility, severely limiting his mobility. An inoperable door could delay evacuation, endangering us both. Confirmed by Dealer: Empire Ford, New Bedford, MA, confirmed the issue in October 2024, tying it to 23B56. They quoted 2-3 weeks for parts but haven’t repaired it as of April 10, 2025. Inspections: Only Empire Ford inspected it in October 2024. They admitted to marking the work order as done without repairs, restarting the process. No other inspections by Ford, police, or insurers occurred. Symptoms/Warnings: No warning lights or messages. Around April 2024, the door became hard to open/close, then failed completely, remaining stuck closed. No prior noises or partial issues noted. Details: In October 2024, I took my Escape to Empire Ford for the 23B56 repair. They said parts would take 2-3 weeks. After months without updates, I learned they falsely marked the job complete, forcing a restart. Six months later, the door is still broken, and they only say parts are “ordered,” offering no timeline. This aligns with NHTSA’s PE23013 investigation into Escape door welds. The delay makes the car unsafe and unusable for my father. I request NHTSA’s help to push Ford for a prompt fix or loaner vehicle.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11653873April 10, 2025SEAT BELTS
The contact called on behalf of his wife who owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact stated that when the temperature was cold the seat belt buckled and remained in place as needed; however, during hot temperatures the seat belt was difficult to unbuckle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer to be diagnosed and the contact was informed that the seat belt was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 62,000. The VIN was unavailable.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11653740April 9, 2025POWER TRAIN
I have a loss of power when accelerating on my 2024 Ford Escape ST Line. This problem isn't all the time, I've noticed when I either fuel or driving off a hill of a driveway, similar to a restaurant hill and when proceeding to drive the vehicle will suddenly stop while I'm accelerating. When I take my foot off the accelerator then tap on the accelerator again, then it drives. This problem happens when driving in traffic. There's also a egg/sulfur smell while I'm driving on the expressway. Like it's misfiring. My frontend also rumble's when I' come to a stop.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11653623April 9, 2025UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Two weeks ago I noticed a crack on my windshield that had creeped up from the inside. This is a brand new Ford Escape purchased 8 months ago that I barely use because I work from home. I took the car to Mossy Ford in San Diego where several workers took an object to the bottom portion of the windshield. I was then instructed to file a report with Ford's customer service, who did nothing for a week. I was then instructed to return to Mossy Ford for a 'pen test' which I did yesterday, April 9. You can rub your fingers along the crack on the outside pane and feel nothing. They allege that a dot at the bottom of the windshield created the crack. There are a number of reports on the Internet pertaining to cracks in the windshield - suggesting installation problems and/or quality of glass. Not only will Ford not replace at their cost, I am fearful for my life with this car.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11653479April 8, 2025ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2023 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 whenever 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, 2025ENGINE
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
- #11652602April 3, 2025ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Escape. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that rodents had damaged the coil wiring. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 23,106.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11652511April 3, 2025FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Not sure if there's a fuel problem or what it could be, but my vehicle pause on the first take off. It doesn't happen all the time, but soon as I fuel my vehicle and proceeding to drive off I'm accelerating in traffic and the vehicle will stop, pause as if I'm braking, vehicle is still running, everything I still on, it just pause while accelerating ONLY on my first initial takeoff. I continue to try and accelerate, and then it will proceed to drive. Driving on the expressway, every now & then it has a egg sulfur smell..With NO codes reading. Service department will not fix unless they can read a potential code, or if they can catch the problem. However, the problem doesn't happen all the time. It's like having a tooth ache, & soon as you go to a dentist, the pain isn't there... The egg/sulfur smell doesn't always smell, it's like you drive it awhile, get on the expressway & you "MIGHT" discover the smell.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11652300April 2, 2025POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The contact stated that the RPM was not increasing on the gauge on the instrument cluster. There was no warning illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent but became a recurring failure. Additionally, the contact reported several electrical failures. The contact stated that the instrument cluster was blank, and the windows failed to respond while attempting to raise or lower the windows. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission software needed to be re-flashed, and the 12-Volt battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred, and the vehicle was taken back to the same dealer. The dealer replaced the 12-Volt battery; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 15,500.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0