2015 Ford Escape
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 1,102 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 12th highest complaint count among 26 Escape model years with reports.
Of the 2015 reports, 29 involved a crash and 20 involved a fire. 34 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Equipment, electrical, engine block heaterJan 15, 2026
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.
An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
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.
Campaign 26V011000 on NHTSA.gov
Back over prevention, sensing system, cameraOct 13, 2025
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape, Taurus, 2016 Fusion, 2018-2019 Taurus, 2019 Lincoln MKT, Fiesta, and 2020 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, intermittent, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.
A rearview camera that fails to properly display an image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on October 25, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the final remedy is available on each phase. Mustang owner notification letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA9. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 14, 2025.
Campaign 25V695000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmission, gear position indication (prndl)Jun 10, 2022
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.
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.
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.
Campaign 22V413000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmission, gear position indication (prndl)Apr 14, 2022
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015 Escape vehicles equipped with 2.0L engines. The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.
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.
Dealers will replace the under hood shifter bushing and add a protective cap over the shift cable bushing, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 27, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S25.
Campaign 22V254000 on NHTSA.gov
Latches/locks/linkages, doors, latchJun 8, 2020
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.
A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
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.
Campaign 20V331000 on NHTSA.gov
Seat beltsJul 25, 2017
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.
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.
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.
Campaign 17V472000 on NHTSA.gov
Latches/locks/linkages, doors, latchSep 6, 2016
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.
A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.
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.
Campaign 16V643000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, ignitionJul 8, 2015
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured April 1, 2014, to June 12, 2015, Ford Focus vehicles manufactured June 17, 2014, to June 12, 2015, and Ford C-Max vehicles manufactured April 22, 2014, to June 12, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the engine may continue to run after the key or the START/STOP engine button is turned to off. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
If the engine does not turn off as expected, someone could move the transmission shifter out of park and the vehicle may move unintentionally, increasing the risk of a crash.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the body control module software, free of charge. The recall began on July 27, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15C06.
Campaign 15V436000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, instrument cluster/panelJun 24, 2015
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."
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.
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.
Campaign 15V406000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
135 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel system, Diesel, Nov 15, 2024
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at 35 MPH, when the accelerator pedal was depressed there was an abnormal sound and the vehicle independently shut down. The check engine warning light was intermittently illuminated. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle stalled. The failures occurred on several different occasions. The "Electrical Malfunction" message was displayed on the instrument panel and the Check Engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that after waiting for an hour, the vehicle restarted. The failure occurred on several different occasions; the infotainment screen had to be reset whenever the failure occurred. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle made an abnormal sound whenever the vehicle was in reverse. The Check Engine warning light was illuminated. The failure occurred on several different occasions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to get a diagnosis however, the contact stated that the failure was not diagnosed or repaired; The contact stated that the independent mechanic gave a diagnosis stating that the water pump needed to be replaced and repaired the vehicle however, the contact was concerned that the failures that had occurred was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
Electrical system, Sep 14, 2024
With no warning, car suddenly refused to start after parking it for a brief errand. Jump starting had no effect (battery was healthy and fully charged). Keys would switch instrument cluster on but cluster would go dark when key was turned to start position or when shifter release was pulled. After reviewing YouTube, other owners found that the 50A mega fuse connected to the fuel pump and BCM (yellow wire) would degrade to the point that its internal connection would become intermittent. This causes intermittent no-start condition and could result in the vehicle shutting off while being driven on the road. Rapping on the front panel of the battery box can temporarily reconnect the internal failure of the fuse and allow the car to start.
Electrical system, Air bags, Sep 3, 2024
My backup camera glitches and my APMI module has gone out, which was diagnosed by Ford. I’ve seen this is an issue with other Ford models as well, however there are no active recalls for my VIN. The Airbag light is also on.
Electrical system, Aug 9, 2024
I was driving this car down the road 50mph when the engine turned off. The dash board indicated no rpm, no warning lights and to shift the car into park. When I rolled safely to a stop, the engine would not crank over with the key and none of the dash board warning lights were on. The issue with this was the 50a BCM fuse #9 opened but did not blow. Wiggling the main wires by the battery caused the BCM to regain power and the car restarted. The fuse was replaced for the repair.
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, May 18, 2024
As I was driving my car started to jerk, drag backwards and stop. I put it in park in the middle of the road and turned the car completely off. It would start and drive, then jerk, try to slide backwards again then stopped. The car starts, but the shift freezes after try to go.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Seat belts, May 6, 2024
The cars electrical system has failed multiple times while driving leading to no headlights , brake lights and all other electrical components. we have had vehicle serviced by multiple different mechanics including ford dealership however problem persists shortly after repair each time. vehicle does not display any forewarning of failure such as no check engine lights or any indication that anything is wrong. all services and inspections show nothing is wrong however vehicle service records show electrical system and battery serviced/changed multiple time due to reoccurring problem. manufacturer says that our vin is not included in the recall however vehicle has all same issues as recalls from May 2014 to July 2015 .Vehicle was manufactured April 04,2015. how are vehicle does not fall under any of these recalls is beyond my understanding , at this point in time vehicle does not run due to multiple mechanics being unable to pin point or fix electrical issues. Would like vehicle reinspected for any of these recalls and car fixed and safe to drive.
Electrical system, Engine, Apr 27, 2024, fire
WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON APRIL 25, 2024. THE ENGINE IGNITED AND CAUGHT FIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE I HAD NO PROBLEMS OR COLLISIONS NO CONCERNS NO MAJOR MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO MY VEHICLE CATCHING FIRE ON APRIL 25, 2024
Power train, Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Apr 16, 2024
My cluster panel went dead and there was a recall for it but the first owner got it fixed and ford wouldn’t do it for me. I couldn’t afford to get it fixed and so it stayed dead. My car eventually broke down on me while driving because I was unable to read the transmission fault warning (because the cluster panel doesn’t work). I just had to buy a whole new transmission and ford is still refusing to fix their failed recall. Had it been taken care of, I would have seen the warning and not drove my car until it broke down.
Power train, Electrical system, Feb 24, 2024
I was driving down the road and all of a sudden my vehicle lurched forward despite me depressing the brakes then would not shift into any gear or move at all. I turned the vehicle off waited 10 minutes and attempted to restart the vehicle so that I could move into a safer area out of traffic. The vehicle began shaking and would not go into gear but did roll enough that I was able to move out of the way of incoming traffic. There were no warning lights displayed on the dash and the vehicle was not malfunctioning prior to the event. The other issue has been that the backup camera repeatedly fails to function at all. Instead the screen is either blue or black and no images are visible.
Steering, Electrical system, Feb 22, 2024
rack & pinion, and power steering assist fault. I am writing to bring to your attention a critical safety issue I recently encountered with my 2015 Ford Escape. I am deeply concerned about the lack of response and accountability from Ford regarding this matter, and I kindly request your assistance in addressing this potentially life-threatening problem. During a recent incident, my vehicle's power steering suddenly failed, rendering the car extremely difficult to maneuver. The lack of power steering made it nearly impossible for me to maintain a straight line, let alone perform any evasive maneuvers to avoid potential hazards on the road. Fortunately, this incident occurred in a drive-thru, and my children were not present in the vehicle at the time. I dread to think of the consequences if this failure had happened while driving at higher speeds or in a more critical situation. Upon taking my car to the Ford dealership for inspection and repair, I was shocked to learn that the power steering issue is not covered under my warranty. The dealership informed me that because my vehicle has exceeded 60,000 miles and is now over four years old, it falls outside the warranty coverage. I find it deeply troubling that Ford refuses to acknowledge the obvious flaw in the design of the car's power steering system, especially when comparable Ford models such as the 2011-2013 Fusion have been recalled for the exact same issue. As a loyal Ford customer, I implore you to thoroughly investigate and address this widespread problem, not only for my own sake but also for the safety and well-being of countless other Ford owners who may be facing similar risks. This dangerous design flaw poses a significant threat to drivers and their passengers, and it is utterly irresponsible for Ford to shirk responsibility and shift the financial burden onto the customers.
Electrical system, Jan 16, 2024
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the instrument panel was blank. Over several days, the instrument panel screen returned; however, the panel intermittently went blank while driving without warning. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V406000 (Electrical System) which was linked to the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
Electrical system, Jan 11, 2024
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the instrument cluster screen became inoperable. The contact stated that the instrument cluster screen displayed a white screen. The contact stated that the instrument cluster screen failure was intermittent. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to report the failure to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 70,243.
Electrical system, Nov 15, 2023
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact became aware that the horn was inoperable. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the horn could be faulty because it was made from plastic. The vehicle had been repaired three times however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to to NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 78,000.
Electrical system, Back over prevention, Sep 17, 2023
The back up camera started appearing upside down at times or black. Then it was constant upside down for a couple weeks so we were co sidering flupping tje camera but it switched to a normal view for about a week or 2 and now it is usually upside down. This can be a safety issue. It's hard to not look at a camera that you're used to using and it's right in front of you. I know other models were re alled so this should also be recalled. I called the dealer and they said they would fix it for around $900 so it's not fixed
Electrical system, Seat belts, Wheels, Aug 17, 2023
After purchasing suv the back seatbelt buckle popped while holding carseat. Second incident while driving car shut off and radio made a popping noise electrical issues stored happening Radio went out electrical functions won’t stay positioned back camera is blinking on an off upside down
Power train, Electrical system, Jul 14, 2023
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated while coming to a complete stop at a traffic light, the vehicle shuddered significantly. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taking to the service station, where an independent mechanic replaced the sparks plugs. The contact stated while reversing out of the service station, the vehicle shut off. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure persisted while reversing and while attempting to drive from a complete stop. The contact stated that she would quickly depress the accelerator pedal after shifting into drive(D) or reverse(R) to prevent the vehicle from shutting off. The contact stated that the failure had been occurring increasingly more. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle and attempting to drive, the engine revved, but the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated that the vehicle was undrivable. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the local dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 103,000.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jul 12, 2023, fire
While driving my vehicle went into limp mode and then caught on fire.
Electrical system, Jul 5, 2023
I was driving when the car turned off and the display said Transmission is not in park. The car would not turn on until the engine cooled down, I took it to mechanics and they could not figure out why it was turning off. The battery, alternator and started all tested fine. I do not know what happened.
Steering, Electrical system, Service brakes, Jun 28, 2023
while driving car shit off and displayed message “transmission not in park” once coasted to a stop car unable to turn back on with steering wheel, gear shift, and brakes locked. inside lights and screens, brake lights, and fog lights will turn on, but car will not turn over or attempt to start
Electrical system, Jun 6, 2023
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the instrument panel failed to illuminate as needed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the instrument cluster needed to be replaced; however, the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.
Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 24, 2023
2015 Ford Escape, on several occasions after fueling, when pushing start, the car cranks but no start and shuts off. It took several attempts, with revving it up and, sputtering and shutting off before it cranked. No check engine indicator illuminated. There have been instances where the car parked in driveway and the same occurrence with it sputtering and shutting off. Currently at Ford dealership, diagnosed as canister purge valve. I contacted Ford reference recall, there are over a million recalls on Ford Focus for this same issue-canister purge valve, but none for Ford Escape.
Electrical system, Latches/locks/linkages, Apr 5, 2023
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated that NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V643000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages) was previously performed on the vehicle. The contact stated that upon locking the vehicle with the key fob, the horn engaged as confirmation that the vehicle was locked securely. However, after his daughter became aware that someone had broken into the vehicle, she discovered that the vehicle could be opened by pulling the door handle after it had been locked with the key fob. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the front driver's side door latch and lock assemblies needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V331000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they could not assist because the vehicle was out of warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 81,000.
Electrical system, Apr 3, 2023
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the rear back up camera failed to operate as needed with a blank on the display screen. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact was informed that the Accessory Protocol Interface Module (APIM) was defective and needed to be replaced. The contact was then notified of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V406000 (Electrical System); however, the vehicle was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.
Electrical system, Engine, Mar 30, 2023
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated that after driving for approximately 20 minutes, the vehicle was parked the key was removed from the ignition, but it sounded as if the engine was still running. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal, and the engine started revving. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was unable to be turned off for 10-minutes. The vehicle was able to be restarted but the failure persisted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 102,500.
Electrical system, Seats, Other or unspecified, Mar 18, 2023, fire
My car caught on fire While it was parked. I contacted ford ford had no knowledge of fires in the car. Come to find out. It's all over the internet that there are fires in the ecoboost fuel system. They are refusing to fix the car. I am disabled and I feel like they are taking advantage of me because of that. I had an extended warranty even at the same time which obviously meant nothing. This is a great injustice and I really really really really really need help. I have tried everywhere. Please help me.