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: steering
81 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jun 1, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE BRAKING, THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AND THE VEHICLE VEERED INTO THE OTHER LANE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SEVERAL MECHANICS, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE, ALTHOUGH THE FAILURE OCCURRED DAILY. THE TIRES WERE ALSO CHECKED AND WERE VERIFIED AS SAFE AND IN GOOD CONDITION. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.
Steering, Electrical system, Mar 3, 2016, crash, fire
I WAS DRIVING IN MAINE. I'M NOT SURE IF I HIT A PATCH OF ICE OR IF THE STEERING FROZE UP. I WAS TRAVELING 35 IN A 40 MPH ZONE AND ON A CURVE, THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF THE ROAD INTO A BOG. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SINK AND I WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR FOR A FEW MINUTES. THEN I NOTICED A FLAME COMING FROM THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. IT TOOK ALL OF MY STRENGTH BUT I PUSHED THE DOOR OPEN AND BEGAN SWIMMING AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. AS I WAS ABOUT 20 FEET FROM THE VEHICLE, IT EXPLODED. I WAS IN THE WATER AND ICE FOR APPROX. 10 MINUTES. THE FIRE DEPT, POLICE, AND EMT'S ARRIVED AND PULLED ME FROM THE WATER AND TOOK ME TO THE HOSPITAL. I HAVE 2ND DEGREE BURNS ON MY ARM AND LEGS. MY INSURANCE COMPANY HAS DEEMED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS AND THE ADJUSTER SAID THE ONLY THING THAT COULD BE SALVAGED WAS 1/2 OF MY LICENSE PLATE. I ASKED WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS AND THE ADJUSTER SAID THAT PERHAPS IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND WATER MIXED WITH THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM MAY HAVE CAUSED THE FIRE. ALTHOUGH HE DID STATE THAT HE WAS SPECULATING AND HE DID NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE AND EXPLOSION. THE VEHICLE IS SITTING AND I HAVE ASKED THAT IT NOT BE DESTROYED (WHAT'S LEFT OF IT) UNTIL THE CAUSE CAN BE DETERMINED. THIS CONCERNS ME GREATLY BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE. I BELIEVE IF ANYONE ELSE HAD BEEN IN THE VEHICLE, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE HAD TIME TO ESCAPE. THERE WAS NO SMOKE - ONLY FIRE AND THEN THE EXPLOSION. THE SHOCK IS STARTING TO WEAR OFF AND I KEEP ASKING MYSELF HOW IN THE WORLD A CAR COULD "JUST EXPLODE". PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD ANY PROBLEM LIKE THIS OR IF ANYONE CAN SUGGEST WHAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THIS CATASTROPHE. THANK YOU. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Feb 29, 2016, crash, fire
I WAS DRIVING AND I'M NOT SURE IF I HIT A PATCH OF ICE OR STEERING FROZE UP. I WAS TRAVELING 35 IN A 40 MPH ZONE AND ON A CURVE, THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF THE ROAD INTO A BOG. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SINK AND I WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR FOR A FEW MINUTES. I TRIED PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE TO GET OUT OF THE WATER AND ICE. THEN I NOTICED A FLAME COMING FROM THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. I PUSHED THE DOOR OPEN AND BEGAN SWIMMING AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. AS I WAS ABOUT 30 FEET FROM THE VEHICLE, IT EXPLODED. I WAS IN THE WATER AND ICE FOR APPROX. 10 MINUTES. THE FIRE DEPT, POLICE, AND EMT'S ARRIVED AND PULLED ME FROM THE WATER AND TOOK ME TO THE HOSPITAL. I HAVE 2ND DEGREE BURNS ON MY ARM AND LEGS. MY INSURANCE COMPANY HAS DEEMED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS AND THE ADJUSTER SAID THE ONLY THING THAT COULD BE SALVAGED WAS 1/2 OF MY LICENSE PLATE. I ASKED WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS AND THE ADJUSTER SAID THAT PERHAPS IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND WATER MIXED WITH THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM MAY HAVE CAUSED THE FIRE. HE DID STATE THAT HE DID NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE AND EXPLOSION. THE VEHICLE IS SITTING AND I HAVE ASKED THAT IT NOT BE DESTROYED (WHAT'S LEFT OF IT) UNTIL THE CAUSE CAN BE DETERMINED. THIS CONCERNS ME GREATLY BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE. THE SHOCK IS STARTING TO WEAR OFF AND I KEEP ASKING MYSELF HOW IN THE WORLD A CAR COULD "JUST EXPLODE". PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD ANY PROBLEM LIKE THIS OR IF ANYONE CAN SUGGEST WHAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THIS CATASTROPHE. THANK YOU. *TR
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Nov 18, 2015, crash
WHILE BACKING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING AND AUDIBLE WARNINGS SOUNDED. THE CAR STARTED SHAKING. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP OR STEER MY CAR. I HAD A LOW SPEED COLLISION WITH A PROPERLY PARKED CAR. THANK GOD NO ONE WAS INJURED. HAD THIS HAPPENED ON AN OPEN ROAD THE OUTCOME WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT. I HAD REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO MY DEALER PREVIOUSLY. THEY APPLIED AN EXISTING RECALL SAYING THAT IT FIXED THE ISSUE. THAT WAS ON THE 20TH OF OCTOBER 2015. THE CAR IS BEING TOWED TO MY DEALER'S BODY SHOP FOR INSPECTION BY USAA. I NEVER WANT TO DRIVE IT AGAIN. I AM TOLD TO TRADE IT IN . HOW IN GOOD CONSCIENCE CAN I DO THAT??
Steering, Engine, Nov 13, 2015
WHEN GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE WITH THE GROOVES IN IT THE VEHICLE DARTS BACK AND FORTH WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND CHECKED ALEINMENT SAID WAS OK DROVE FOR A WHILE BOUGHT IT BACK AGAIN WAS TOLD TO LIKE IT OR SELL IT OR GO TO ANOTHER DEALER SHIP THEY DID NOT EVEN ATEMPED TO CHECK TIRES HATTON FORD N DAK 1 MORE TIME GOING TO TURN IT IN TO THE LAWYER FOR THE N DAK LEMON LAW
Steering, Aug 24, 2015
WHILE TURNING LEFT FROM A STOP SIGN, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VEER INTO THE LANE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE DRIVER YANKED THE STEERING WHEEL HARD TO THE RIGHT AND THE VEHICLE RETURNED TO THE CORRECT LANE. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN ON 7/31/15 WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 8/8/15 AND THE TECH INDICATED THERE WERE NO CODES; HOWEVER THE VEHICLE HAD AN ACTIVE RECALL OUT, WHICH THEY FIXED. IT HAPPENED ON THREE ADDITIONAL OCCASIONS BETWEEN 8/8/15 AND 8/21/15. IT SHOULD BE NOTED, THE VEHICLE WAS SOLD WHEN THERE WAS AN ACTIVE RECALL.