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
1,102 reports, newest first.
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 30, 2023
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the DTC codes indicated that cylinder #1 and #3 were misfiring. The contact stated that a week later while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine overheated with a message to turn off the vehicle displayed. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle operated normally. The following day the failure reoccurred. The vehicle taken to the local service center and coolant was added to the reservoir; however, several hours later the contact discovered that the coolant reservoir was empty. There were no coolant leaks present. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The contact was concerned that the manufacturer had recalled other year vehicles for the same failure. The failure mileage was 160,000.
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
Steering, Jun 28, 2023
Steering assist fault Service required [XXX] 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. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Power train, Jun 14, 2023
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the contact stated that the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the transmission was replaced; however, the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was taken to two different independent mechanics, who were unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
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.
Power train, Jun 10, 2023
Transmission has had issues since purchasing the vehicle 5 years ago. Upon acceleration, car jerks forward. Transmission recall for bushing came out in January 2023. In April, my car got stuck in reverse and would not change gears due to the recalled transmission part. In May, my transmission went bad while driving, and I could not change gears or accelerate speeds due to a faulty transmission. I believe that the recall is associated with my mechanical failure of my transmission.
Power train, Jun 9, 2023
Transmission failure. OBD reports gear 3 incorrect ratio. Research indicates this is a common and ongoing failure in the Ford Escape due to engineering and manufacturing by Ford.
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, Jun 7, 2023
At approximately 85,000 miles, the vehicle started experiencing issues where pressing the gas pedal would not make the vehicle move. It was intermittent, and luckily I was near my home and able to get it into the garage. If I had been on a main road at the time, I likely would have been hit, injured and/or killed. I was confident it was a transmission problem because I had the same thing happen on a 2014 Ford Escape in 2022. That vehicle had about 135,000 at the time. If you follow this Facebook link, you will see many more people who also have the same transmission issues with Ford Escapes. https://www.facebook.com/groups/811053262904301 Ford Motor Company and the local dealership were very difficult to work with on this issue.
Power train, Jun 6, 2023
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and failed to accelerate as needed. The contact stated that the “Service Transmission” warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 183,000.
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.
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, Jun 2, 2023
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH the vehicle started overheating with the "Vehicle Overheating - Pull Over" message displayed. The contact was able to pull over on the side of the road and turned off the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that coolant was leaking into the engine and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted but no assistance was provided. The contact was advised to contact the manufacturer for assistance. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was filed and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was 57,000.
Back over prevention, May 23, 2023
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while in reverse, the rear-view camera failed to illuminate. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the rear-view camera needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 64,000.
Power train, May 19, 2023
Ford case number - [XXX] I was driving down the highway to attend my daughter's college graduation when I noticed that the vehicle wasn't moving when accelerating; it got worse as I again tried to accelerate and the engine was revving and RPM dial was increasing but car would not move. Then the car jumped and sputtered. As I was exiting the highway the Transmission Failure light came on. There was no warning to this event. Once I got the car off the highway and assessing the situation, we decided to try and start the car to see if it would drive and while the car did start, it would not move in drive or reverse. The car was towed to Columbia MO so I could attend the graduation and is being serviced by a transmission expert there. He confirmed that it needs to be rebuilt. This same repair shop has said they have serviced close to 60 Ford Escapes for transmission in the last 18 months. Another Ford dealer said its a known issue for these transmissions to fail. My car doesn't even have 100k miles on it. The danger and risk of this happening on an interstate is pretty obvious; the cars behind me had no idea my transmission was failing (heck, I didn't know it either) and that I was struggling to accelerate. We could have easily been hit by any car or semi that was travelling down that same highway - it was extremely scary. It is crazy to think of the number of Ford Escapes in the nation that are failing when a small town in Missouri has serviced 60 in less that two years! I hope that people are reporting this and that you have a way to investigate to determine the manufacturer liable for these very dangerous and expensive failures! 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/
Engine, May 11, 2023
The car was running just going down the road then all is a sudden it gave a jerk and the temp gage went up to hot and a warning came on saying to stop the vehicle, which I did and it started to cool down. Then I drove it a little further and it began to smoke and I got it it a place to park and we looked and the coolant was empty. So I had someone get me some coolant and filled up and I started the car and it began to smoke like a freight train, so I shut it off and called a tow truck to have it towed to the closest garage and they have inspected it and it has a crack in the long block. This has been a complaint by several ford owners and Ford does nothing to fix the issue or replace the motor. They supposed to be investigating but we was told there was nothing to be done by Ford and we have to pay $6200 for a used motor that will most likely fail as well. We just to get our car fixed and I believe Ford should pay for a new motor since this is a manufacturer defect. According to the mechanic and the reviews I have researched on this problem. Please help us. Thank you
Power train, May 5, 2023
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while parking the vehicle, the transmission failed to shift into park(P), with the Service Transmission Now message displayed. Additionally, the vehicle made abnormal sounds while driving. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where recall repair of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train) was performed; however, the failure recurred after the recall repair was performed. The contact stated that the transmission failed to shift into drive(D), and the parking brake was applied while the vehicle was parked. The vehicle was then towed to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000.
Power train, Apr 30, 2023
While driving on rural roads (30-45mph) the vehicle had a sudden loss in power, as though the transmission was slipping. The problem went away as suddenly as its onset, but approximately a week later, a warning 'Transmission Failure, Service Now.' appeared and the vehicle immediately went into limp mode, and would not shift into higher gears. AAA was called to tow the vehicle to the dealer for service. The Ford dealer received the vehicle and reported that the clutch plates had failed. This vehicle had the original transmission fail at 65,000 miles. Ford refused to pay for any parts or labor, as the car was out-of-warranty (by 5000 miles). Customer payed out-of-pocket for diagnosis, parts, and labor to install a new transmission ($5820.86). The second failure noted above occurred at 81,000 miles (only 15,000 miles / 18 months on the new transmission) and was covered under the warranty of the prior transmission.
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.
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
Power train, Apr 20, 2023
Complete Transmission Failure. Always serviced at 30,000 miles and regular maintenance done on vehicle. This occurred without warning and according to the Transmission Shop and looking at the internet, this is a common problem with Ford Escapes after 100,000 miles. Ford needs to pay for these repairs. $5000 for mine
Power train, Engine, Apr 19, 2023
Currently a Lemon Law Lawsuit is going on out west in reference to the Ecoboost failure which my vehicle year is included in that. The risks include engine failure and risks of fire. Currently my vehicle is missing/over heating/white smoke pouring out of my exhaust/losing coolant. This has caused my vehicle to be a major safety hazard for my children and myself. Ford has been called but was told nothing can be done since no recall has been put into effect.
Latches/locks/linkages, Apr 12, 2023
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while attempting to close the rear driver’s side door, the door failed to latch securely. The door ajar warning alert indicated that the door was open. The contact stated that she used a rope to keep the door closed. The contact was concerned that one of her children could fall out of the vehicle if the door opened while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the latch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V643000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 193,000.
Power train, Apr 12, 2023
My transmission have gone out because the manufacturer got the parts in to late!
Steering, Power train, Apr 5, 2023
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at 57 MPH, an abnormal sound was heard, and the vehicle failed to accelerate. The contact stated that that the transmission failed, and the service message was displayed. The contact stated that the vehicle was hauled to the residence while in neutral. The vehicle was then towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired with a refurbished transmission. The contact stated that the following day after picking up the vehicle, upon starting the vehicle, the steering assist fault message was displayed before the vehicle erroneously turned off. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer who stated that the steering assist needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to an unknown steering recall however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, the contact was unaware if a case was opened. The contact was transferred to the NHTSA Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 106,000.