Ford Escape Complaints

758 consumer complaints on file.

#11742616June 7, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The panoramic sunroof cover shade completely detached from the side tracks and the rear roller mechanism failed. When the shade is fully closed, it just sags on the sides and lets light beams leak through. The actual safety issue happens when you press the button to retract it fully away. Instead of rolling up into the headliner like it is supposed to, the fabric folds up and hangs down at the back. It creates a huge flap of loose fabric hanging all the way down to the back seat headrests, which completely blocks the view through the back glass window and eliminates rear visibility while driving. The component is available for inspection upon request. The problem has not been inspected by a dealer or independent shop yet, and there were no warning signs or symptoms before the failure happened.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11742537June 7, 2026
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
When the brake is applied, the gas pedal accelerates. It has happened 2 times and I could have went through a stop sign or traffic light. The tool light came on but went off. This has happened a few times starting in April.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11742276June 5, 2026
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, BACK OVER PREVENTION
The contact owns a 2022 Ford Escape. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) and 26V123000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The local dealer confirmed that parts were still unavailable. The contact stated that the back over prevention camera displayed a half image while operating. The failure caused in a minor crash while the vehicle was in reverse(R) and damaged the contact's vehicle and another vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 32,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11741655June 2, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2022 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle on many occasions, the vehicle would start up and display odd error messages. For example, if the vehicle was plugged in, it stated to go to the owner's manual. The vehicle would not move and caused the vehicle to go into park. Clearing the messages and restarting the vehicle caused it to work again. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: (25V789000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 26,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11741627June 2, 2026
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
The contact owns a 2022 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and taken to the dealer and diagnosed with turbo, catalytic converter failure. 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. The contact stated that fuel can be smelled while driving, and experienced loss of power, warning lights service engine soon and engine has detected a fault illuminated on the instrument panel. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11741427June 1, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
My 2023 Ford Escape is equipped with a factory-installed rearview backup camera system and SYNC infotainment system. Beginning on or around February 2026. I began experiencing a series of recurring, intermittent, and worsening failures with the rearview camera and the Accessory Protocol Interface Module (APIM) that controls it. These failures render the backup camera system unreliable or completely non-functional during vehicle operation. Specific Symptoms Observed •BLUE / BLANK SCREEN: When the vehicle is placed in reverse, the rearview camera display shows a solid blue screen or goes completely blank rather than displaying the rear camera image. This failure occurs with no warning and leaves me unable to see what is behind the vehicle while backing up. •INVERTED / UPSIDE-DOWN IMAGE: The rearview camera image displays upside-down and/or mirrored, rendering the image confusing and unsafe. Guidelines, directional aids, and proximity warnings displayed on screen are also inverted, making them unusable. •DISTORTED / CORRUPTED IMAGE: The camera feed displays visual distortion, artifacts, freezing, flickering, or corruption that makes it impossible to accurately interpret what is behind the vehicle. •APIM FAILURE: The Accessory Protocol Interface Module (APIM) — the core software module controlling the SYNC 3 display and camera feed — has failed or malfunctioned. Dealership diagnosis has identified the APIM as requiring repair or replacement. This module failure is the root cause of the camera display issues described above. The failures occur intermittently and unpredictably. The camera may function correctly for a period, then fail on the next use. In some cases, the failure is persistent across multiple ignition cycles. There is no consistent triggering condition — the defect occurs in varied weather conditions, temperatures, and after varying periods of use. Turning the vehicle off and back on sometimes temporarily restores the camera, but the defect returns.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11741381June 1, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
There is a cover over the bar that divides the sunroof that has come off. This is only held on with two-sided tape. It will not stay in place. After investigating this on-line, it is recommended not to move the shade without this cover in place - the bar (without the cover) could damage the fabric on the shade. This bar fell while my children were sitting the in back seat, while they were not hurt, they could have been. I have not taken this to a service center but I have seen many Ford Escape owners on-line that have complained of this problem happening. I have pictures but this page will not let me upload them.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11741312June 1, 2026
VISIBILITY/WIPER, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
My windshield wipers aren’t working properly and it causes me to not be able to see while driving which cause me to hit a curb and damage my front fender and my trunk makes a nose when I drive like it wants to pop open my car flashes warnings and then no sign of issues
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11740898May 29, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape PHEV. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V789 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11740867May 29, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Nov 20,2025 Manufacturer Recall Number25SC4 NHTSA Recall Number25V789 Recall Status Recall Incomplete, remedy not yet available We purchased our vehicle with the intent of using it for a daily work commute, the range of the battery being perfect for this. We now find that the vehicle is not 100% safe to charge or drive in the manner intended and no remedy has been supplied by Ford, nor is one expected. We were advised by Ford not to charge it at all lest it catch fire. After several months we were told to charge it to only 80% to avoid the possibility of a fire while driving or when parked and charging. After a checkup we initiated with our local Ford mechanics in early 2026, we were told that the car was now safe to charge 100% and the recall could be ignored. We believed this to be the case. However, while having our car valued for a trade in, a dealer told us that the car still had an open recall on the battery which should definitely not be ignored. Ford’s own website says no fix is expected, no parts are available and the fire danger is still present because the issue is battery related, not a software one. Samsung who manufactured the batteries recalled them in February 2025. [XXX] We are no longer able use the car as intended: 80% of charge moving a 440Lb battery leaves short of the 35 miles we expect. Not utilizing the entire range of the battery, has cost us money in the purchase of gas which we should not have incurred. The vehicle is stored in a garage adjacent to our home, and were it to catch fire, we would lose everything. We wish to sell the car, but feel we shouldn't with such a dangerous safety unresolved flaw. Our vehicle has decreased in value by 66% since 2022 which has impacted our trade in value severely. This car is a financial impediment a potential danger to our safety and home and a nightmare to own. 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
#11740355May 27, 2026
POWER TRAIN
2023 Ford Escape with approximately 80,000 miles. While traveling home, vehicle started shifting violently making loud bang. Lost acceleration while traveling on a two-way roadway with no shoulder. Vehicle would shift violently and allow acceleration momentarily and then would again lose acceleration. Just prior to reaching a pull off area in a safe place, the vehicle shifted violently one last time and would no longer accelerate. The service engine now warning light then came on advising of a powertrain malfunction. Vehicle was towed to Ford dealership and the technition reported that the planetary gears were locked up and a full transmission replacement would need to be done. This posed a serious safety issue on the road way due to the initial sudden speed changes becuase of the loss of acceleration and then the complete loss of ability to accelerate causing the vehilce to have to drift slowely to the shoulder while impeding traffic.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11740341May 27, 2026
POWER TRAIN
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? - Transmission. Codes pulled read P0751 and P0752. "Shift Solenoid 1 stuck open/closed". Yes, it is available for inspection. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? - I was driving in active traffic through a roundabout when the vehicle suddenly jolted, the seized. At the time, my two young children were in the vehicle. I narrowly avoided a collision due to another vehicle swerving around my vehicle. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? - Yes. I took the vehicle to Mark Grainger's Quality Service Center, Rincon Transmission, and the J.C. Lewis Ford dealership, which all reproduced and confirmed the issue with coresponding error codes P0751 and P0752. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? - Yes. Mark Grainger's Quality Service Center told us the transmission work required was beyond their scope. They sent us to Rincon Transmission. Rincon Transmission told us they'd never serviced that engine before and said they'd prefer the work to be done by a Ford dealership. J.C. Lewis Ford told us a new transmission was required, but wouldn't produce results of any testing to verify that verdict. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? - No. Not at the time of this incident. A CEL previously indicated a fault O2 sensor, which was then serviced by the J.C. Lewis Ford dealership.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11740185May 26, 2026
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
The contact owns a 2022 Ford Escape. The contact received notice of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact stated that on several occasions when the vehicle was parked with the hood open, started, idling, and driving at various speeds, she observed a ticking noise emanating from the engine compartment. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired; however, a mechanic friend stated that when they observed the vehicle, the ticking noise was emanating from the fuel injectors. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 43,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11740061May 26, 2026
POWER TRAIN
My daughter owns a 2021 Ford Escape FWD equipped with the 1.5L turbocharged EcoBoost inline-3 engine, VIN [XXX] , with approximately 95,000 miles. The vehicle has been serviced almost exclusively by Ford dealerships and maintained in accordance with manufacturer recommendations. The vehicle recently began exhibiting significant drivability and transmission-related problems, including shuddering while driving, hard shifting, RPM surging/revving, hesitation during acceleration, and erratic transmission behavior. The vehicle has hesitated in traffic, creating a significant safety concern. No warning lights or diagnostic alerts were displayed prior to diagnosis. On May 26, 2026, the vehicle was taken to [XXX] Ford, [XXX] , for a routine oil change and completion of open recall repairs. At that time, the transmission-related symptoms were reported to the Ford service department. The dealership performed a road test with a data logger and diagnosed the issue as: “Torque converter slipping causing shudder / bump while driving.” The dealership recommended the following repairs: Replacement of the torque converter Transmission line flush Replacement of transmission fluid Retesting after repair The quoted repair estimate was approximately $4,500. The Ford service advisor stated that the repair did not necessarily have to be completed immediately, but also warned that the condition could worsen and leave the driver stranded. This presents a serious safety concern. A vehicle experiencing transmission shuddering, torque converter slippage, hesitation, hard shifting, and erratic RPM behavior can experience loss of propulsion, delayed or inadequate acceleration, unpredictable drivetrain response in traffic, inability to safely merge or clear intersections, and stranding in unsafe conditions. Given that the vehicle has been routinely maintained, no warning lights were provided to alert the driver, and similar complaints 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
#11739999May 26, 2026
BACK OVER PREVENTION, VISIBILITY, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V117000(VISIBILITY); 25V467000(FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); 26V123000(BACK OVER PREVENTION); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted and it was confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced the failure 39,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11739849May 25, 2026
STRUCTURE:BODY
Failed door check attachment point on driver side. Door has issues when opening and closing.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11739774May 24, 2026
ENGINE
I bought this vehicle in mid April 2026 with 9,500 miles. It has the 1.5L Ecoboost engine. I drove the car for 3,000 miles and noticed the coolant was at ‘minimum’ and wondered why a car with so few miles is using coolant. I took the car to my dealer and they confirmed coolant intrusion into the engine due to a bad head gasket. The vehicle is now at the dealer waiting on either a new head gasket or other more intensive repairs due to internal damage. I wanted to flag this because the engine is the 3rd version of this engine but the same issues as previous versions. The repair is under warranty.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11739552May 22, 2026
POWER TRAIN
I had problems with the brakes at first (system pressure). Than it was a powertrain failure. Followed by Turbocharger wastegate failure. It affected the vacuum system, brakes, and acceleration ability. Brakes became firm, but not stopping as well when applied. Had extreme loss of power trying to get up to speeds to enter highway & interstate at 60 then 70 mph. Dealership ended up replacing turbo wastegate. Exactly one week after getting it back. All the same happened again. Seeing others complaining of turbo wastegate failure (which is tied into vacuum/ pressure system & does in turn affect vehicle breaking system)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11739386May 21, 2026
POWER TRAIN
Stopped at a Light and took off thru the intersection and car made a loud bang noise then no power and kept bogging out, pulled into parking lot and stopped then car wouldn’t move. Shut car off then restarted it and put into reverse and car drive forward, put in neutral and car still drove forward, couldn’t get it to go into reverse, now the motor is tilting back to fire wall like motor mounts are broke and it’s make a grinding noise when idling.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11739303May 21, 2026
POWER TRAIN
THIS FORD 2021 ESCAPE HAS A SERIOUS TRANSMISSION SHUDDER. IT RELIABLY WILL DO IT AT APPROX 13-15 MPH. APPROX 27-30 MPH. ABOUT 33-35 MPH. THE RATTLE, SHUDDERING ACTS AS IF THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING TO DO SOMETHING DANGEROUS. WITHOUT ANY HESITATION, THE TRANSMISSION WILL SHAKE, SHUDDER, VIBRATE. IF YOU KEEP SPEED STEADY, FOR INSTANCE 17 MPH, IT IS SCARY, AND WILL KEEP SHAKING AS LONG AS CAR IS AT A PARTICULAR SPEED. THE FORD DEALER WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED SAYS NO RECALLS, ALTHOUGH THEY ADMIT VIBRATION ISSUES IN THESE MODELS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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