NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2014 Ford Escape. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated while stationary, the contact shifted into reverse however, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with needing the shifter cable bushing replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
Went to pull out from light and car would not go into gear then clunk it jammed into gear but then the light was red and it almost sent me into the intersection
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact rolled the vehicle to a stop. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer where it was diagnosed with needing the transmission to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train) in June 2022 after the repairs were completed. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 139,499.
Driving and the steering assist failure warning came on and lost all power steering.
CVT TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON THE STREET CAUSING ME TO STALL IN A HIGHLY CONGESTED AREA. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A PERFECT REAR END CONDITION..
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the power steering assist fault warning message appeared on the instrument panel. The contact used excessive force to move the vehicle off the road. Due to the failure, the contact initially had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was then towed to a dealer. The contact was informed that the steering rack assembly needed to be replaced. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 57,000.
Vehicle began shaking when idling and was taken to independent repair shop. Upon their inspection oil was found around the spark plugs which was an indication that there was a cracked cylinder head caused by overheating and requiring a new engine. There had been no sensor alert that coolant levels were low.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at 45 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently stalled. The contact veered to the side of the road. The contact stated he turned off the vehicle and as he turned it back on, the vehicle made an abnormal popping sound. The contact stated when he switched gears to drive the vehicle moved with delay, however, he was able to drive to his destination. The dealer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to tow the vehicle to their location for diagnosis. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 90,342.
Transmission quit working and the vehicle stopped forward progress abruptly. There were no warnings on the dash. Vehicle will not shift and transmission disengages with no warning. Repair shop quoted a complete replacement at $7000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the instrument panel was inoperable. The contact stated that the speedometer and the odometer no longer functioned due to the failure. The contact called the dealer and he was referred to the manufacturer for assistance. The manufacturer informed him to use the "Ford Pass" App to keep track of his vehicle mileage. The contact stated that the App did not work with his model year vehicle. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 127,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated and there was smoke coming from underneath the hood. Additionally, the temperature gauge indicated that the engine was overheated. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the engine coolant was constantly low however, there were no visible leaks present. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that coolant had leaked into the engine cylinder causing severe damage to the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 100,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the coolant warning light would illuminate on the instrument panel. The contact called the dealer and was informed her vehicle was not under warranty. The contact also stated that while driving at 15 MPH, the vehicle shut off as the temperature gauge indicated that the engine was hot. There was white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic where she was informed that the cylinder had cracked and had leaked coolant into the engine which resulted in engine failure. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V209000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) which she linked to the failure. The vehicle had been repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.
I have a 2014 Ford Escape VIN:[XXX] (mfg date 11/2013) that almost killed somebody. I put the car in Park and got out of the car, It then proceeded to roll backwards towards a crowd of people. I was able to jump back in the car and put on the emergency brake to stop the car. Turns out their is a recall : FORD Safety Recall 18S20 – Shift Cable Bushing Replacement affecting 2013-2014 Ford Escape, & 2013-2016 Ford Fusion. Unfortunately, I never got a recall notice because the recall only covers Escapes up to 9/2013. How can I get my car added to the Recall? Thank You in advance. [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at slow speeds, the vehicle overheated. There was an abnormal odor and detection of heat inside the vehicle. A message to pull over and check the engine was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that there was anti-freeze in the engine and the engine needed to be replaced. The repair parts were not available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified however, no further assistance was provided. The contact mentioned being extremely concerned about driving the vehicle and a possible fire. The failure mileage was 51,187.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the vehicle would not shift out of PARK. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V471000 (Power Train) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 107,000.
Instrument panel cluster lcd constantly flashing and not working.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact became aware of white smoke coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The vehicle was later taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a coolant leak from the radiator hose. The contact was informed that the radiator hose needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, the contact stated that the coolant reservoir was being refilled every other day for several years. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 141,000.
I was driving on the highway and all of the sudden the temperature gauge maxed out and the console said engine overheating. I pulled off to the side and as soon as I put the car in park, the gauge returned to normal. The coolant reservoir was full and the radiator was not unreasonably hot. The check engine light came on at the beginning and went away as soon as I pulled off. I do not know what caused this problem, but it has not been recreated since then.
The valve for the eco system is stuck open which causes car to stall while driving and loses power on a flat surface(most do that uphill) and revs engine rpms way too high and tranny slips. I have a aftermarket warranty that is bumper to bumper but seems everytime i take it to garage the warranty company claims the parts aren't covered. I can't afford this repair which is going to cost me $600. The company doesn't even pay for the diagnosis which is another $90. Ford investigation needs to recheck their results over
The rear back up camera routinely appears upside down, in readable lines, a blue screen, or unable to get camera image. Inconsistent and a engine reset makes camera available again. Loss of camera could result in increased backover, crash and injury risk. Able to reproduce every time I reverse for now than 30 seconds or when I shift to reverse then drive then reverse again. A similar recall had been issued for other Ford vehicles 2015 and newer.
I have had a 2014 Ford escape titanium 1.6L turbo, but I have had two transmissions (6F35) fail for the exact same reason. The torque converter is shooting metal into the transmission causing an internal failure. This has resulted in me having to pay for yet another transmission costing me at least $6,000 from the repair and then for acquiring a rental vehicle. I've been told by my repair shop that this is a common issue with this transmission. The failure both times has happened when I have been driving at a high rate of speed on the expressway and I suddenly lose the ability to drive the car and I have to coast to safety. The first time this happened I did experience a warning from my on board system but the second time the failure happened and nothing came up on the dash. I currently have an extended warranty through endurance that is not paying for this repair. This will be the second claim that I have made then I will have to pay out of pocket. I think there seriously needs to be a recall or some sort of redesign done on this torque converter.
Rear window shatter due to heat while parked, when not in used the vehicle is parked in the garage.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle started shuddering. The contact stated upon making a turn and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond and decelerated independently. The contact was able to pull into a parking lot. The vehicle was towed to the used car dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission assembly and the turbocharger needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the vehicle remained at the dealer for 5-6 months until repaired. Upon retrieving the vehicle from the dealer and driving to her residence, the vehicle was shuddering significantly. The used car dealer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to bring the vehicle back. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 91,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon backing out of a parking space, the power steering assist failed with an unknown warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and resumed normal driving operation. A few days later, the contact stated that while at a complete stop, the failure returned with the "power steering assist, service required" warning message on the instrument panel. Due to the failure, the contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer where she was informed that the steering column needed to be replaced. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 122,000.
1. my electrical system shutdown the car 2. It stop while we were driving in the middle of a busy street 3. yes...they needed to keep the car for several days in order to fix all of the components that were effected. 4. a policeman tried to help with the car and then they had to redirect traffic and they called for the tow 5. no warning lights or alerts
When putting my vehicle into reverse it wouldn't go into gear it was stuck in a neutral position unless it was in park. If I would step in the gas it would just rev up the engine.
The vehicle was used days prior with no issues. I started the vehicle up while still in the parking spot and the vehicle started great. Everything was fine while driving this particular day. My husband and I alternated between drivers, him and I. Suddenly the car was revving itself as I pushed on the gas pedal. The vehicle suddenly with no warning stopped picking up speed then would pick up speed when you least expected it. I didn't receive any warning on the dashboard until this had been going on for nearly 2 hours so there was definitely a delayed response on the dashboard of any warning or malfunction. My husband and I pulled over multiple times, turned off the car and allowed it to sit for 15-30 minutes then carried on our way. It wasn't until 2 hours after this issue started that we suddenly received a warning on the dashboard that stated transmission fault service now. Every time we would stop, turn off the car and turn it back on the warning on the dashboard disappeared. It would eventually come back on approximately 20-30 minutes later. We were far from home and wouldn't have been able to get a tow unless we were within a 100 mile radius. We drove the vehicle as far as we could then without warning the vehicle it shut off. It lost all power completely. I took the vehicle for a diagnostic to a reputable Ford Dealership and I'm being told that I need an engine and transmission. I did a bit of research and found that Ford Escape are nitrous for Engine and Transmission issues. I've found several articles where individuals complained of the exact same issue as mines. Ford needs to be held accountable for making such an unreliable vehicle! They made a vehicle that is known to have a multitude of major safety issues yet has done nothing to resolve the matter. Now we are stuck with a vehicle that doesn't work! We have to continue making payments on a vehicle that is of no use! We are both disabled as well so this vehicle was our lifeline to getting around!
I was driving down a busy highway and out of nowhere I noticed my car started to slowly stall out. I was lucky enough to pull into the median where my car had came to an abrupt stop. I put it in park, but after that I wasn’t even able to turn my car off or on. My lights were still on in my car and everything else. I couldn’t shift gears to even put it into neutral to push it out of the way. I was lucky enough to call the police to come make sure I wouldn’t get hit. We had it towed, the tow truck driver had to manually unhook my car battery and take the shifter apart to put it into neutral. I looked my vin # up for a recall but mine is not apart of the recall. Which it definitely needs to be, I could’ve been killed if I wouldn’t have gotten my car over in time.
Initially the only problem I had was the back up camera. It kept disconnecting, with a failure (error) code. Soon Afterwards, The vehicle loss all power steering abilities. The tires have been replaced with new tires. The vehicle locked up when parked and I was unable to move it when in drive. I called for assistance from a towing company. They inflated my tires. I took the vehicle to a certified mechanic. They were unable to resolve the issue. They said they couldn’t find them problem. Today, I (just) returned from an out of state vacation with my 2 grandchildren in tow, and loss power steering again while going down a steep and curvy mountain side. I found a pullout, parked and I called my daughter to come pick up the kids (several hours away) for their safety. I also had my husband assist me with handling and driving the vehicle with out power steering. Again several hours away. The Mountains & cliffs were a threat and a danger to all of us on the road. So we worked through a plan of push & pull. I’ve reported the problem multiple times to the local FORD dealership & manufacture with no positive response or suggestions. The vehicle is a 2014 with only 52,722 miles. I need help, please.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The contact stated that there was a knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that the vehicle then failed to properly accelerate and sometimes drove rough. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that coolant had leaked into the engine and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V209000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 36,000.
The wipers became slow and erratic, then stopped when headlights were turned on. The lights also were affected as they became dim or out depending on the selection of Hi, Low or Driving. The wipers could have failed during a storm, or the headlights could have become inoperative with no warning. The problem was reproduced at the dealer and inspected as well. There was no indication that there was a problem until the wipers and lights were operated. There could have been more systems that were failing we did not notice as the problem was all of the grounding wires were on painted surfaces. There are several Service Bulletins on this car and the Ford Focus in the same model year range. I have correspondence from the dealer that indicates the problem. Although our car did not fall under these bulletins, I feel this should be a recall since any electric component could fail with no warning by the design of these cars.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed of a misfire in cylinder #2. The dealer reset the warning light however, the warning light returned. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where the ignition coil was replaced; however, the failure recurred. The dealer replaced the engine with a used engine. Recently, the contact stated that the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that there was a misfire in the engine. The manufacturer was notified and provided the contact with a case number. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.
When I turn the car on and put it on reverse it takes a while to change gears and when you change it to drive it sometimes won’t let you drive and makes you feel like ur on N
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the transmission was slipping between gears and making a grinding sound. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the transmission had failed and needed be repaired or replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the control module needed to be replaced. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the power doors had failed to operate as needed and would independently lock and unlock at various times. The contact stated that the infotainment screen would intermittently display a black screen which caused the backup camera to fail to operate as designed. In addition, the contact stated that the START/STOP button would fail to respond after multiple attempts. On two separate occasions, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact then received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V413000 (Power Train). The contact had called the dealer and made an appointment; however, once she arrived, she was informed that parts for the recall repair was not available. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was unknown. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Had a child in car seat when the passenger door opened thank goodness I was in driveway. I have a door that does not close due to the recall latch and part is on back order. NO ETA from local Ford company. In the meantime door does not close and I’m left waiting for who knows how long for the parts to arrive for a recall that Ford has been aware of for years.
The contact's father owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while his father was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle overheated and loss motive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who informed the contact that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V209000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was then towed to the dealer and diagnosed that there was coolant found in cylinder number 2 from a cracked head gasket. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be rebuilt or replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 44,778.
I have a cracked cylinder head on cylinder number 3 that is leaking coolant into my engine. My vehicle was bought directly from Ford in 2014 and has 68,900 miles on it. I have done all of the routine maintenance over the years and there is absolutely no reason my vehicle should be having this issue. I have already had my car in the shop multiple times for the same issue. Engine light kept coming on and I could barely get it too accelerate before I was told it will cost almost $9000 to fix. I attempted to call Ford and they claim there is nothing they can do for me.
A recall was issued for back up camera malfunctions on Ford models under NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V575000. My Escape has the exact same issue with the back up camera as described in the recall. The camera intermittently goes out and a message appears on the screen that the back up camera is not available or it goes blank. I have had the dealership look at the camera twice in the past three years and each time they tell me there is not an issue with the camera that it functions as expected.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light remained illuminated, and the temperature gauge indicated that the engine was overheating. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who replaced an oxygen sensor, but the failures persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 68,000.
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Rack and Pinion Gear Assembly. Yes, but already inspected by Ford Dealership. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Stopped to get gas while on a trip, when turned the engine on, the steering wheel would not turn. It was completely locked with no prior warning. If this had happened on the interstate, I could have wrecked with children in the vehicle. I am not even sure I would have been able to turn the wheel to pull off to the side of the road. VERY dangerous. Had to be towed 24miles to closest Ford dealership and spent the night in a strange town as everything was closed and couldn't get rental as the supply was low in the tiny town. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, dealer service center confirmed problem and informed me it would cost $3K to fix on my 2014 Ford Escape, which only has 54K miles on it. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Yes, by Ford's service center, where the vehicle is being repaired. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No warning until after the problem occurred. The reading stated, "Steering Assist Fault Service Required" when I started my car to a locked steering wheel.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the instrument panel was inoperable, which resulted in the contact not being able to view the speed, fuel level, and warning lights. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V406000 (Electrical System) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was unavailable.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle, the steering wheel was locked. The "Steering Assist Fault" message was displayed. The contact stated that as he turned off and restarted the vehicle, the message was no longer displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who informed the contact that the mechanic was unable duplicate the failure. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred several times. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle however, the warning message remained displayed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the power steering rack needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact they could not assist as the VIN was not included in a recall related to the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 62,000.
Engine caught on fire
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated while in the driveway and loading the vehicle, wheelchair lift fractured. Additionally, there was a low-pressure sensor light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was still drivable. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.
Driving on the highway I lost braking power the brake vacuum pump ceased up and broke the bolt in the cam shaft that had to be drilled out and replaced then that caused more damage to the cam and bottom end of the motor for the motor to throw the following codes: p0365 p0369 p0012 p0299 b1215 p0234 U3008 U3003 U0300 p1594 U0140 U0154 U2300 U0422 B1B36 With all these codes I did the following and am now without a vehicle thanks to FORD. This vehicle only has 58000 Miles is single owner and was well maintained till this incident now I am told the motor has to be rebuilt as the cam and bottom end are the issues with this vehicle and this has happened to a lot of people and could have cause a crash or deadly accident as no brakes and now no vehicle. The three sensors were replaced and brake vacuum pump and bolt that drives the pump from the cam along with new spark plugs and valve cover gaskets plus oil change and filter plus new battery and tires along with front rotors calipers brake pads and rear rotors and brake pads. I blame Ford for this as this is a well known issue with 2014 to 2019 models of Ford Escape Titanium 2.0l Eco Boost Engine with turbo. Garages all over the US and Canada have been just replacing the engines due to poor engineering on Fords part and I believe Ford should be held responsible to the engines replacement as it is not even 60000 Miles and I try to take good car of my vehicle only to have none now to drive. Ford Should be held Responsible.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated that upon placing the gear shifter into PARK, the “Shift to PARK” message was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact also stated that upon placing the gear shifter into PARK; the vehicle would roll away without warning. The contact called two dealers and each informed her that her vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V471000 (Power Train). The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and referred him to NHTSA for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
I started the car and tried to move the steering wheel and it won't move to either side. In the dash of the car only appears a i.
I was driving in a parking lot and put my car in reverse to allow another car out of a parking spot. When I tried to put my car back into drive it was stuck in reverse and would not shift. This nearly sent me crashing into the car behind me as a result. I couldn’t even put the car in park because the shift was stuck. I turned off the car and attempted to turn it back on but it would not start. Bystanders helped push my car into a parking spot where I attempted to troubleshoot the issue. I was able to push a white lever under the shift panel to get the shift stick to move but it was then stuck in neutral and would not recognize any other gear. I had to put the emergency parking break on to keep my car from rolling into other cars around me. I did some research and found Recall # 18S20 - 2013-2014 Escape with a 6F35 Transmission Shift Cable Bushing Replacement. I contacted a few Ford dealerships in my area but they said my Vin was not included in this recall even though this is the exact issue I was having and posed a severe safety issue.
A common issue on these Ford Escapes (Mine is a 2014) are the canister purge valve sticks open , causing the fuels vapors to enter engine while fueling. This essentially floods the engine when fueling. It also throws a check engine light and runs lean. I have seen hundreds of issues which the Ford Escapes and nothing has been done about it . This should be covered under the emissions defect warranty but the part is not listed. The weird part is this same exact issue is listed under numerous recalls for different models such as the Ford Focus. I have no idea why Ford is not acknowledging this issue on the Escape ,especially on the 1.6 EcoBoost engine - which is a PAIN to change the canister purge valve. Hopefully Ford fixes this and sends recalls to everyone affected.