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: other or unspecified
141 reports, newest first. Show all
Other or unspecified, Jul 29, 2023
My transmission is slipping and won’t change gears consistently.I bought it in for recall work but it seems like the issue wasn’t fixed 2015 Ford escape
Other or unspecified, Jul 26, 2023
When driving on the freeway The car all of the sudden stop indicating TRANSMISSION NOT IN PARK. It had a recall 22S43/NTHSA22V413 and suppose Ford fix it but its doing it again. On July 7, 2023 [XXX] told me to take it back but as of July 25, 2023 still have not been fixed. The past 3 days i been calling [XXX] but he does not answer my calls. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) The consumer stated that they are scared the vehicle will stop in the middle of the freeway again.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jul 12, 2023, fire
While driving my vehicle went into limp mode and then caught on fire.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Engine, Jul 11, 2023
Update to previous report filed Report No. 11521661. Another class action lawsuit filed on this same issue alleging FORD's knowledge of this issue and lack of response. Is the NHTSA going to act? This is dangerous. https://www.carcomplaints.com/news/2023/ford-canada-lawsuit-ecoboost-engines-leak-coolant.shtml
Other or unspecified, Jun 11, 2023
Unsuccessful correction of recall of instrument panel. The panel flickered shortly after we purchased in 2018 and have been told by Ford dealer the manufacturer replaced with the same part that was malfunctioning. They will only attempt to correct the problem one time. The same bad fix was applied to the recall. I feel like I have to 'tip toe' so to speak driving this car. There's no way to know how many miles the car has been driven, or other information as it is all blank.
Other or unspecified, Jun 8, 2023
I took my 2015 Ford Escape to Gary Yeomans Ford Ocala for 2 recall items and they wanted to charge me for the recall items. My Vin#[XXX] Making me pay for recall items is illegal and they should be prosecuted. IMHO Where can I go to have the recall items fixed without having to pay for them? INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Power train, Other or unspecified, Engine, May 12, 2023
https://www.cars.com/articles/2013-2015-ford-escape-fiesta-st-fusion-transit-connect-recall-alert-1420694733115/ While driving 80 miles an hour on an 8 lane freeway, with the flow of high traffic-including semi commercial traffic, and my child in the car, the vehicle went into limp mode due to an overheat warning. I was unable to accelerate and was able to "limp" to the side of the road. Very scary and VERY dangerous. My child and I are lucky something worse did not happen. Root cause lack of coolant circulation resulting in the engine overheating. This possibly has caused a crack in the cylinder head, resulting in a pressurized oil leak that, in the presence of a heat source such as a hot engine surface, increases the risk of an under-hood fire. Through research, I found this is a known issue with my vehicle and besides a limited recall (of which my VIN is excluded) there is a class action pending in California. I contact FORD customer service and its answer was my VIN isn't included in the recall so nothing they could do. When I brought up on FORD's knowledge and request for someone in its escalation team to call me, they said a supervisor would call and the customer service supervisor said- my issue because my VIN not included in the recall. There have been 30+ cases of engine fires related to this issue and hundreds if not thousands of FORD owners affected. How is the NHTSA not taking action? This is very dangerous and a very expensive cost to consumers who were misled by FORD to purchase these dangerous lemons. This is a dangerous defect that FORD has known about for years. NHTSA should require FORD to recall these for the safety of children and consumers. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-caed-2_21-cv-00468/pdf/USCOURTS-caed-2_21-cv-00468-0.pdf https://www.change.org/p/hold-ford-accountable-for-fixing-their-ecoboost-engines https://www.lieffcabraser.com/2021/05/ford-ecoboost-engine-defect-lawsuits-consolidated-in-california/
Other or unspecified, Apr 22, 2023
When stepping on the gas the SUV is hesitating to move forward, it is shifting very high and having a hard time shifting into gear. Transmission issues
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.
Other or unspecified, Mar 14, 2023
2015 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO NHTSA SAFETY RECALL 20V-22.
Other or unspecified, Oct 7, 2022
Horn works intermittently
Other or unspecified, Aug 19, 2022
Shifter is stuck, not able to maneuver safely. I will take my car tomorrow to an auto center to fix it.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Engine, Jul 16, 2022
Was driving and came to a stop and vehicle said transmission not in park and shut off. Tried to restart and it did even attempt to turn over so I was stuck in the lane of traffic on the road.
Other or unspecified, Jun 14, 2022
The bushing to my vehicle unattached itself while I was in the car and my 6 year old child. The car continued to roll forward although I tried to hold the brakes down and it would not go into park. I had to use the emergency brakes to keep the vehicle from continuing to roll forward. I looked up a recall for my vehicle but it has no remedy to the issue. I cannot drive my car in the condition that it is in because it will not go into gear or crank up because it is stuck in reverse.
Steering, Other or unspecified, May 14, 2022
Steering assist failed, unable to steer car
Other or unspecified, May 11, 2022
Back up camera is blacking out and/or distorting more than half the time it's in use. The problem is intermittent. It's the exact same issue as already Recalled for newer Ford vehicles.
Other or unspecified, Mar 9, 2022
Stalls randomly, usually after idling for a period of time. Have changed throttle body and perge valve , was an issue on older models but no recall for the 15 and up for a harness issue
Other or unspecified, Engine, Visibility/wiper, Jan 23, 2022
First problem- over the course of the last few years, the car intermittently gets "jumpy" when changing to/from different gears like (from reverse to drive OR drive to reverse, all after completely braking-not in the middle of gear shift). It has not completely stalled but feels very close to it. i had brought it in in the past and they had never found anything wrong with it. It does not always happen. Second problem- the rear view back up assistance has not been working properly for over 3 years. I will be in reverse and either the beeping continues even though nothing is around or, the screen goes blank and shuts off. I was told this would be at my expense, not a recall. this does not happen all the time but is very often.
Other or unspecified, Nov 24, 2021
The transmission shift cable bushing on my 2015 Ford Escape deteriorated and failed. The car indicates that it is in PARK but it is actually in gear and will roll freely but can not be cranked. There has been a recall for this exact same problem on the 2013 and 2014 versions of this same vehicle as well as some other Ford vehicles. Why does it not include the 2015 model year?
Other or unspecified, Back over prevention, Nov 9, 2021
The vehicles rear view camera works intermitantly - sometimes it is blank, or upside down and sometimes it works - as I saw they are recalling 2019 models with the issue I think my 2015 model has the same issue. Please issue a recall on this model aswell thank you
Other or unspecified, Sep 24, 2021
Ecoboost failed. Car would not accelerate while I was on a highway. Car went from 67 mph down to 35. There was no notice of the dramatic change in speed for the cars behind me. I was almost rear-ended.
Other or unspecified, Jul 9, 2021
I started noticing coolant leakage. Then while driving I have been getting a warning say “engine to hot stop vehicle immediately safely.” Then from there it would go into another warning. This 1 saying “vehicle will not operate at full power.” And the car would not go past 40mhp. I was thinking of fixing myself and started to research parts. I then came across this class action suit against Ford and my vehicle for the same issue I’m having and how it is causing engine fires. I contact Ford and basically got told there is nothing they can do. I’m including the class action case with this also. (Link to follow) https://www.motorbiscuit.com/overheat-fail-fire-big-ford-ecoboost-class-action-lawsuit/ (Here is the actual case documents) https://www.google.com/amp/s/dockets.justia.com/docket/california/caedce/2:2021cv00468/390575%3famp NAME OF THE CASE IS: Patricia Lund v. Ford Motor Company
Other or unspecified, Latches/locks/linkages, Jun 13, 2021
Passenger side door opened while driving. Passenger side door not unlocking from outside.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Apr 12, 2021
DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY MY TIRES SLIPPED AND TRIED TO KICK ON TRACTION CONTROL BUT INSTEAD DISABLED MY DRIVING UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO GET OVER AND STOP. TURN THE CAR OFF FOR A COUPLE SECONDS THEN RESTARTED IT BACK ON. DID THAT 3 TIME IN MY WAY INTO WORK. I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS THE TRACTION CONTROL UNTIL I GOOGLED WHAT HAPPENED AND LOT OF RESPONSES SAID THE TRACTION CONTROL GETS FAULTY. SO NOW EVERY TIME I DRIVE I HAVE TO GO INTO THE SETTINGS AND TURN OFF MY TRACTION CONTROL OR IT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. LUCKILY NOBODY WAS BEHIND ME.
Other or unspecified, Feb 8, 2021
CABIN GAS SMELL WHEN DRIVING